Willie Nelson is an American entertainer and songwriter, born and raised in Abbott, Texas. He reached his greatest fame during the so-called “outlaw country” movement of the 1970s.
In his earlier days, Nelson found work primarily as a songwriter. Notable songs include “Pretty Paper”, recorded by Roy Orbison, and “Crazy”, recorded by Patsy Cline. Nelson signed with RCA Victor Records in 1965 and joined the Grand Ole Opry. After moving to Austin, Texas, he enjoyed success with his own brand of country music marked by rock and roll, jazz, western swing, and folk influences.
Notable releases include “Shotgun Willie”, “Phases and Stages”, and “Red Headed Stranger”. Nelson’s outlaw image (“outlaw” because it did not conform to Nashville standards) was cemented with the release of the album “Wanted: The Outlaws!” which featured performances with Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser, country music’s first platinum album. In 1978, Nelson released two more platinum albums, “Waylon and Willie” (a collaboration with Jennings) and “Stardust”, an unusual, string-based album of popular standards. More recent releases include “Across the Borderline”, “The Great Divide”, and “Countryman.”
Source: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Nelson
