The famous musician Willie Nelson, now 92 years old, seems to be in no mood to slow down, albeit his 90th birthday bash was mistaken by some as a curtain call. Nevertheless, Nelson’s undeniable passion for making music is what keeps him going, even despite losing some close companions along the way. He is once again teaming up with his friend Bob Dylan for the second phase of the Outlaw Music Festival, scheduled to kick off on June 20 in Clarkston, Michigan, marking the festival’s 10th anniversary.
Nelson’s reiteration, ‘I’m far from done’, makes it clear he still has a fire inside him for music. His camaraderie with Dylan was evident when he quipped, ‘Bob’s my ally, and I’d be more than happy for him to grab the spotlight’, hinting at the deep friendship between the two. The festival is part of a power-packed year that will culminate with the 40th anniversary of the Farm Aid in September.
Willie Nelson’s year was also marked by the release of his 77th studio album during the spring. Known for his fondness for singing his friends’ songs, sometimes even more passionately than his own, Nelson has a track record of such tributes. In 1979, he paid homage to Kris Kristofferson, a dearly departed friend, by bringing out an entire album dedicated to his pal’s work, ‘Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson’.
Nelson’s admiration for the works of his friend Rodney Crowell is no secret either. He has often performed one of Crowell’s best creations, ‘Til I Gain Control Again’, praising it as ‘one of the top-notch country songs I’ve heard’. Keeping up with this fondness, Nelson recently came out with an album entirely dedicated to Crowell’s compositions, titled ‘Oh What a Beautiful World’.
‘I’ve yet to come across a tune from Rodney I dislike,’ claimed Nelson about the album. This release was timed perfectly with the 50th anniversary of ‘Red Headed Stranger’, an album that is widely seen as Nelson’s magnum opus. Interestingly, this breakthrough album was released when Nelson was 42, transforming him from a respected artist to a superstar beloved by his fans.
Nelson, the ever-dedicated composer, shared that he has already embarked on his 78th studio album. However, he chose not to reveal any specifics about the upcoming work. While he prepares for his next tour, Mickey Raphael is the only original member left from Nelson’s classic Family band. Raphael’s harmonica has been in sync with Nelson’s signature warble for several decades.
Even though most of his classic band members are no longer around, Nelson continues to tour with his brigade – a band that often features his sons, Lukas and Micah, along with Payne’s son and Sammi Smith’s singer, Waylon Payne, wielding the guitar. They all tune in to Nelson’s spontaneous performance style and ever-changing moods onstage.
Interestingly, Nelson’s live shows are known for one distinctive feature: the absence of set lists. He prefers to improvise, trusting his ability to ‘read the crowd pretty well’. His no-setlist strategy means that everyone, including the band, sound guys, and lighting crew, constantly remain alert and are ready for any surprise twists. This style allows for quite a lively performance, with the crowd ‘jumping in’ to his spontaneity.
Among the songs Nelson typically performs are enduring classics like ‘Whiskey River’ (always the opening number, thereby saving everyone from guessing,) and ‘Bloody Mary Morning’, along with recent additions such as ‘Last Leaf’ by Tom Waits. This song appeals to Nelson’s status as a survivor, encapsulated in the lyrics: ‘I’m the last leaf on the tree, The autumn took the rest, but it won’t take me.’
‘My son Micah stumbled upon this gem,’ said Nelson about Waits’ song. Nelson also shared his admiration for ‘Last Leaf’: ‘I am really fond of the song, and the audience seems to like it too. It’s one of the really good ones.’ He has also been including songs penned by Micah, who records and performs under the moniker Particle Boy. ‘Everything Is B- – – – – -t’ is seen as a crowd favorite.
This apparent contrast to Nelson’s regular gospel melodies like ‘I’ll Fly Away’ and ‘Will The Circle Be Unbroken’ do not seem to bother him. To Nelson, ‘It’s all gospel’, he chuckled, showcasing his unique perspective towards music. Additionally, September will witness the 40th annual Farm Aid festival, another venture of Nelson’s along with Neil Young and John Mellencamp, to aid family farmers.
The event, inspired by charity concerts like ‘Live Aid’, has now become an annual tradition, shifting to a different city close to farmland every year. Minneapolis is hosting this year’s edition. When asked about his favorite, Nelson responded, ‘Each one has been special in its own way. The inaugural one was tremendous, and the recent one was no less impressive.’
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