As he approaches his ninth decade, one might have mistaken Willie Nelson’s birthday bash, hosted in the legendary Hollywood Bowl, as a debutante party for his retirement. But a couple of years on, now at 92, it’s abundantly clear that such assumptions couldn’t be further from the truth. Nelson continues to showcase his indefatigable spirit, proving even in his advanced years, he is far from the end of his career. Remarkably, he still earns his bread by making music, an endeavor that he embraces with utter devotion despite having outlived many of his lifelong comrades.
Shortly, Nelson will once again embark on a journey with none other than Bob Dylan for the Outlaw Music Festival. The festival, now in its 10th year, is set to kick-off its second half on 20th June in Clarkston, Michigan. Any whispers that Nelson might quit the tour were instantly dismissed when he retorted, ‘I’ve heard some talk about it. But I’m not through with it yet.’ Nelson, ever the magnanimous companion, is more than content to let Dylan take the limelight during this tour.
The tour represents just one slice of an exceedingly hectic schedule for Nelson. The Back end of the year looks equally eventful, leading up to the 40th anniversary of Farm Aid in September. Earlier this spring, Nelson already unveiled his 77th studio album, evidence of his unceasing creative spirit. For Nelson, playing his own compositions is secondary to doing justice to the works of his friends – a testament to his humility and respect for his fellows in the industry.
Way back in 1979, Nelson aptly demonstrated this affection for his companion’s works by releasing ‘Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson’, a tribute to his good friend, Kris Kristofferson, who took his final bow in 2021. Similarly cherished are the compositions of Rodney Crowell. Nelson has routinely regaled his fans with Crowell’s ‘Til I Gain Control Again,’ a track that Nelson fondly refers to as ‘one of the best country songs that I think I’ve ever heard.’
Recently, Nelson continued this tradition by consecrating an entire album – ‘Oh What a Beautiful World’ – to Crowell’s brilliance. ‘So far he hasn’t written one that I don’t like,’ Nelson professed. This monumental endeavor coincides with the 50th anniversary celebration of the ‘Red-Headed Stranger,’ often lauded as the pinnacle of Nelson’s craft. The album was a watershed moment in his career, transforming him from a reputable industry staple to a vertex of the music world.
Even as he prepares to light up stages across the country, Nelson has commenced work on his 78th studio album. However, he’s been typically coy about the direction this ambitious project will take. While the majority of his classic Family band lineup is a memory of an illustrious past, an exception to this rule is Mickey Raphael. Now at the youthful age of 73, Raphael’s harmonica remains an inextricable companion to Nelson’s distinctive timbre.
Nelson’s touring company today bears little superficial resemblance to the original line-up that mesmerized audiences, yet it retains the spirit of a family-like ensemble. Often in tow are his offspring, Lukas and Micah. Waylon Payne, progeny of singers Sammi Smith and Jody Payne, fills in the role of the guitarist. This assembly adeptly matches steps with the unpredictable peculiarity of Nelson’s performances.
Revealing a refreshing disdain for pre-programed routines, Nelson gives a wide berth to setlists. Every member involved with the show, be it the band, the sound engineers, or the lighting technicians, must be prepared for unpredictability. ‘I’d rather play it off the top of my head, because I can read the crowd pretty good,’ Nelson affirms. ‘They jump in there.’
More recently, fans have been treated to renditions of classics such as ‘Whiskey River’ – an evergreen opener – and ‘Bloody Mary Morning,’ as well as newer additions like Tom Waits’ ‘Last Leaf.’ This song, that poignantly captures Nelson’s status as an enduring figure in the music world, is a proud staple of his 2024 album, ‘Last Leaf.’
‘I’m the last leaf on the tree,’ Nelson serenades in this number. ‘The autumn took the rest, but it won’t take me.’ ‘My son Micah found that for me,’ Nelson recollects fondly, ‘I really love the song, and the audience likes it, it’s one of the real good ones.’ Alongside these profound tunes, Nelson has made room for songs written by Micah, who operates under the moniker ‘Particle Boy.’
When one thinks of his concerts, there is a noticeable contrast with gospel standards such as ‘I’ll Fly Away’ and ‘Will The Circle Be Unbroken’ intermingled with more irreverent songs like Micah’s ‘Everything Is B——-t.’ Nelson, however, seems to view it differently, offering a chuckle and saying, ‘It’s all gospel.’
The impending September marks the 40th anniversary edition of Farm Aid. The fruit of a vision shared by Mellencamp, Young, and Nelson, Farm Aid is an annual festival aimed at supporting family farms. The event was conceived as a one-off charity concert akin to ‘Live Aid,’ but morphed into a war-chest for the family farm cause, traveling across the country to cities fringed with farmland.
This year, the mantle of the host city lies with Minneapolis. While every rendition of the festival holds a special place in Nelson’s heart, he admits, ‘They’ve all been good, for different reasons. The first one was great, the last one was great.’ It’s another testament to how, even with all he has seen and done, every moment still holds something special to Willie Nelson.
Undeniably, the legend of the ‘Red-Headed Stranger’ continues to grow as he carves his own path with an unwavering zest for life and music. Even at 92, retirement is clearly a foreign concept to Nelson. His drive and tenacity seem to only fuel his passion, propelling him to new heights, embodying his innate will to create and celebrate music with those he cherishes.
As Nelson beautifully encapsulates it all through his song, ‘The autumn took the rest, but it won’t take me.’ Still steadfast, still producing, and still truly incomparable – the last leaf, Willie Nelson.
The post Enduring Icon Willie Nelson: Far From Retirement at 92 appeared first on Real News Now.
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