Three cheers for Willie Nelson, the national treasure of Texas! He’s turned 85 this year. He and his fans probably thought he’d never live past 50. But as he’s been willing to talk to the media all these decades, we can already guess what’s kept him rolling along. (And I don’t mean the reefer, even his own mind-blowing brands, although he does say pot made him less prone to anger. And that’s gotta do the heart good, right docs?)
Why, everyone knows the story of Willie Nelson: abandoned little boy raised by his grandparents in the tiny Hill Country community of Abbott, Texas; a stint in the Air Force; door-to-door salesman; radio dj; playing country bands; move to Nashville; hit songwriter. His songs are standard in the American songbook: Night Life, Crazy, Whiskey River, Funny How Time Slips Away. His songs were often first recorded to fame by the unique and memorable country and Western voices like Patsy Cline, Johnny Bush and Ray Price.
But back when Willie tried to emulate the country star image of groomed hair and suit circa 1960, it just wasn’t his style. And they made fun of his singing, too. Laughed him all the way back to Texas. And as the life and times of Willie Nelson go, he just happened to be at the right place at the right time. He grew his hair long and wore jeans and t-shirts or muscle Ts. His beloved guitar Trigger always faithful to perform, he met up with other country artists ready to rebel against the polished Nashville sound, more skyscraper than honky tonk. He released Red Headed Stranger, the album cover depicting him in a wanted poster from the 1800s. The album featured his vocal style somberly singing Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain with his signature melodic guitar picking. The album received wide appeal.
Along with country music friend Waylon Jennings, in 1976 Willie co-recorded an album that would top the charts for years. Wanted! The Outlaws featured Good Hearted Woman and My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys. They say Willie brought together the rockers and the rednecks. Willie went on to headline his famous Fourth of July picnics, support Farm Aid, and invest in bio fuels as well as marijuana.
And he’s received just about every music award America has to offer, including: Grammy Hall of Fame; Kennedy Center Honors; Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year in 1980; and Grammy Awards for Best Male Country Vocals in 1976, 1979 and 1983. Talk about doing your own thing and believing in yourself!
The Tao of Willie Nelson
Yep, there’s a book melding Eastern philosophy with the life attitude of Willie Nelson. Given the way he’s chosen to live his life, happiness is evident to the rest of us. In figuring out what Willie has to offer us about life, assumptions could be:
First, do your own thing. In retrospect, Willie was of his time: growing up in the Depression and loving country music. He simply took the style and set his own plain yet poetic words. Hint for songwriters out there, according to Willie: Melodies are in the air. Just pick one.
Second, impress yourself. Willie writes good songs because he knows it. He didn’t need anyone to tell him a song like Crazy would be a huge hit. But he was at the right place again: talking to Patsy Cline’s husband at Tootsies in Nashville. Everyone in the country music business already knew Willie wrote great songs. The topic was bound to come up.
But what didn’t come up was letting Willie sing his own songs his way. Yet once again the Tao of Willie is about believing in himself. He always thought he had a pretty good voice. It just took a cultural change in America’s music tastes—the preference for denim folk rock with a lot less polished recordings. Willie was already out there performing. Audiences were willing to listen to and appreciate his own style and renditions of his songs, already nationally known melodically, lyrically and emotionally.
Third, don’t live to impress others. Willie chased fame and fortune, but then the famous started chasing Willie. When he decided to quit the music business, his attitude changed. He may have been hurt and angry, but when his feelings turned to don’t give a damn, wham! That’s the key to real happiness. He split with the Nashville scene, returning home to Texas and found a personal freedom that allowed him to sing his songs his way, making a living doing what he loves. Among the workforce, this is rare. Willie would say he was determined more than just lucky that life worked out for him. The lesson is to be in control of one’s life and pursuit of happiness.
Fourth, keep active. As long as he’s been able, Willie has been athletic, running races and golfing. He’s out there, breathing in the fresh air, taking in the sun, enjoying the day. He found as a famous entertainer, he does not always have to be ‘on’ all the time. He was able to handle success.
Finally, keep an open mind. Willie has a sense of humor, can see the funny in time slipping away, allows himself a good laugh not necessarily produced by the wacky weed. And though the once red-headed scrawny young man never would have imagined his life turning into a national celebration and social influence through the gift of time and age, Willie stayed true to himself: from the braided hair, twinkling smile, love and heartache, versatile endeavors, heart of gold—the face of human life.