When Willie Nelson first came to Nashville, he had his sights set on becoming a recording star. He would get there eventually, but not on the path that he had envisioned.
After gigging around Nashville, including extended sets at the famed Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge on Lower Broadway, Willie still hadn’t gained much traction in the record business. So he signed on to be the touring bassist for Ray Price (replacing a young man named Donny Young, soon to change his name to: Johnny Paycheck).
Once off the road, Willie’s songs became hot commodities. “Hello Walls” was picked up by Faron Young, and Patsy Cline’s recording of “Crazy” would be on it’s way to becoming a Country standard.
Eventually, Willie’s own recordings started breaking the top 20. Then, in 1975, he released the famed Red Headed Stranger album, which would spawn the #1 hit “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain.”
From that point on, Willie’s career would be the stuff of legends.
Folks, if you want to take an audio tour of Willie Nelson’s life in music, then this week’s Country Music Greats Radio Show was tailor-made just for you!
We’ve dusted off a Willie Nelson interview from our archives, and rest assured, we’ll be playing all of his best hits as well.
So join us, this week, on the Country Music Greats Radio Show.
Hope to see you there!