Willie Nelson

**Willie Hugh Nelson** (; born April 29, 1933) is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist.

In 1961, a song that he wrote was recorded by Faron Young, and became a number one song on _Billboard_'s Hot Country Songs music chart. In 1975, he had his first number one song, as a singer, on _Billboard_s Hot Country Songs music chart.

## Early life

Willie Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas on April 29, 1933, during the Great Depression to Myrle Marie (née Greenhaw) and Ira Doyle Nelson. He was born on April 29, 1933, but his birth was recorded by doctor F. D. Sims on April 30. He was named Willie by his cousin Mildred, who also chose Hugh as his middle name, in honor of her recently deceased younger brother. Nelson's ancestry includes English, Irish, and Cherokee. His parents moved from Arkansas in 1929, to look for work. Nelson's grandfather, William, worked as a blacksmith, while his father worked as a mechanic. His mother left soon after he was born, and his father remarried and also moved away, leaving Willie and his sister Bobbie to be raised by their grandparents. The Nelsons, who taught singing back in Arkansas, started their grandchildren in music. Nelson's grandfather bought him a guitar when he was six, and taught him a few chords, and with his sister Bobbie, he sang gospel songs in the local church.  He wrote his first song at age seven, and when he was nine, played guitar for the local band Bohemian Polka. During the summer, the family picked cotton along with other citizens of Abbott.  Nelson didn't like picking cotton, so he earned money by singing in dance halls, taverns, and honky tonks from age thirteen, and continuing through high school. Nelson's musical influences were Hank Williams, Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell, Ray Price, Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Django Reinhardt, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong.

## Personal life

Nelson is the co-chair of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) advisory board.

### Singles

- Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (1975)
- "Always on My Mind" (1982)

## Writing of songs

- Crazy (1961)
- Christmas Blues

## Infobox (military person)

- **embed**: yes
- **branch**:  United States Marine Corps
- **serviceyears**: 1950–1952


## Infobox (musical artist)

- **name**: Willie Nelson
- **alias**: Red Headed Stranger
- **image**: Willie Nelson.jpg
- **caption**: Nelson performing in 2006
- **background**: solo_singer
- **birth name**: Willie Hugh Nelson
- **birth place**: Abbott, Texas, United States
- **instrument**: Vocals, guitar
- **genre**: Country music, Country, progressive country, country rock, outlaw country, alternative country, Traditional pop music, vocal pop
- **occupation**: Musician, songwriter, producer, actor, activist
- **years active**: 1956–present
- **label**: Liberty Records, Liberty, RCA Records, RCA, Atlantic Records, Atlantic, Columbia Records, Columbia, Island Records, Island, Justice Records, Lost Highway Records, Lost Highway Legacy Recordings
- **associated acts**: Waylon Jennings, The Highwaymen (country supergroup), The Highwaymen, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson
- **website**: [http://www.willienelson.com/ www.willienelson.com]