WINNIE, Texas — With a population of 3,400, almost everyone in this Chambers County town 60 miles east of Houston turned out recently when Willie Nelson paid a visit.
For at least 90 minutes a night, several times a week, Willie Nelson is in front of an audience somewhere. KVUE’s sister station WFAA went on the road with him as well for a candid conversation with the music icon who turns 80 years old in April.
WFAA: “Are you smoking any more or less marijuana these days?”
WILLIE: “I think so (laughs). I think you nailed it right there.”
He’s approaching a big birthday but not counting the calendar.
WILLIE: “I’ve gotten to do a lot of things I’ve wanted to do.”
WFAA: “Anything you haven’t done?”
WILLIE: “If there is, I don’t remember! (laughs)!”
Nelson has recorded with everyone from Snoop Dogg to Barbra Streisand, has seven Grammys, 200 albums, and a new one called “Let’s Face The Music And Dance” due out within weeks.
If his legacy isn’t already established, he said he hasn’t given it much thought.
WILLIE: “Oh, I don’t know. I’m 80 years old practically now. So fifteen years from now, probably nobody will give a damn. ‘Willie who?’”
Willie Nelson is modest and humble.
He performs in New Balance tennis shoes and stays in shape by cycling and with Tae Kwon Do.
WFAA: “You always seem so optimistic and so positive. What upsets Willie Nelson?”
WILLIE: “I like the way things are going. I have a positive attitude about the future. I have always — I haven’t always, I take that back — somewhere along the way, I decided that it’s better to think positive than negative. That was a huge turnaround for me.”
Coming up on 80, Willie Nelson has no plans to retire. But if there’s a second generation of music in this family it’s his 24-year-old son Lukas, already a dynamic musician in his own right.
“When I was young, probably 10 or 11, I asked my dad what he wanted for his birthday and he said, ‘I want you to learn how to play a guitar,’” Lukas recalled.
Lukas can sound a lot like Willie, but his talent on the guitar is much more complex. During one song while opening for his father, Lukas pulled the electric guitar up to his face and started playing it with his teeth.
Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn influenced Lukas. But the 24-year-old doesn’t discount his dad’s direction.
“He was also very helpful guitar-wise,” Lukas said. “He said, ‘Lukas, you’re good.’ — I must have been acting up — he said, ‘Lukas, you’re good… but you’re not that good.’”
WFAA: “You said you wouldn’t allow them on stage if they weren’t good.”
WILLIE: “If they weren’t good, no.”
Willie Nelson is the patriarch of pop country, the elder statesman of cool, and approaching 80 he still lives the life he loves.
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Willie will grow on you. I have been listening for many years (Decades) and I never tire of his music. I just finished up the book “Roll me up and smoke me when I die” and I must say it is a humble look on his life, and family members shed some of the experiences knowing Willie. I like the fact he cares about Farmers, Horses, environment, etc. I would love to meet the man on a personal basis, maybe some day, but for now, when he is near our town,we will go to see him. Willie– “Keep on Keeping on”
I have always admired you and loved your music, may God continue to Bless your life, and may you always be happy and well Loved, I hope one day I get a chance to go to one of your outings or even just to say- Hi, I Hope your day is filled with smiles, beautiful sun rises and sun sets, I hope you never get to busy so you for get to look at the beauty around that God has painted for you, even if it is for a few seconds to just enjoy. God Bless you and all you love and keep you always in his arms as our Father has already done all these wonderful years, Have fun fishing in the river of life.
hi, i was wanting to have a conversation with mr. nelson
How I wish I was able to go to his show. I haved loved his singing for years. The songs he writes have such deep feeling.
Willie Nelson is awesome!! I was thrilled to know that he has a son that has such an amazing voice. If I had one wish in life it would be to shake Willie’s hand and have a beer with him. I have been a fan for over 30 years, have seen every show I could get to, including Willie’ First (and Last) Octoberfest in Anaheim. We rocked those bleachers. Thank you Willie! ou have brought much pleasure into my life.
Mr Nelson
Mama finally shared her love of your music with me a few months before her death. Prior to that time, she went along with my dad’s love of the classics, opera, swing, big band…everything but country music. But after Daddy died she was free to listen to her taste in music and you were it. We played your music night and day for 3 months during her illness, drawing in assisted living neighbors and attending personnel. Many people shared their love of your music through tears and laughter.
I can’t express the joy of sharing your music with her as I am a life-long fan. Her freedom to listen to what she wanted when she wanted is all she wanted at the end of her life. A small freedom as a foretaste of the freedom through death.
Thank you from the core of my being for giving her this gift of final music.
Maureen Nolan
WOW!! so glad I got you to sign my hat AND got to shake your hand Willie I am a 53 year old man I have been following you as long as I can remember, I would love to feed you and your family and crew when ya’ll come thou Amarillo again .We owen a little burger jount here in town called Arnold Burger Mom and Dad started 40 years ago and now the kid’s are taken care of it .3rd generation of family we would love to put your pick on the wall with other’s none as famous as you .GOD has belssed us and you also just would like to shear it with you and your family. thank you for your time.
I attended the concert in Clairmont last night. Willie sang for about two hours straight with a couple of wonderful piano pieces by Bobbie. Mickey was his terrific self on the harmonica and everyone left happy. I have never heard a Willie song I didn’t like. There were a few such as Gravedigger that I had to listen to a few times to appreciate, but every song he sang last night was my favorite. He looked healthy and happy as he heads to the BIG 80! God bless Willie! If you aren’t attending his concerts, you are missing a Legend.
Have you ever thought of recording Life’s Railway to Heaven? It is one of my favorite songs and I want it played at my funeral – and sung by you. Remember when you recorded it with Patsy????
I am desperate to find the piano sheet music for “Got You On My Mind’ played/writtren Buddy Morrow. Eric Clapton bought all the rights to this song, therefore I am unable to buy same. You will have made my Life complete at 77 yrs.
Grateful thanks
Yvonne