A Slice of Americana Pie

How can anyone bring up American music and not mention Willie Nelson? Willie is Americana. His stylings are country and folk, but he sings the blues, he delves into jazz, and plays rock songs and pop songs and American standards. He’s obviously a big fan of all kinds of music and it shows in his heart felt delivery.

I was first officially introduced to his music at a Leon Russell concert in the early 1970s. It was Leon’s encore set and I was eagerly waiting to hear “Song for You,” when he brought Willie out to sing a couple of his own songs. The disappointment of not hearing Leon’s song all faded when I heard the opening lines to “Hello Walls.” I had no idea who this short-haired, clean shaven performer was but I was immediately grateful for the interruption. Armed with only a guitar, his lyrics and delivery were a refreshing departure from the pounding rock and roll. I would soon be hearing a lot more from this prolific songwriter and performer.

Willie Nelson achieved songwriting success in the early-to-mid 1960s in Nashville with hits like “Funny How Time Slips Away,”  “Hello Walls” (Faron Young), “Pretty Paper” (Roy Orbison), and “Crazy” (Patsy Cline), but after a series of various recording projects in Nashville that brought him only moderate recognition, he retired and moved to Austin in the early 1970s, where he tried unsuccessfully to become a pig farmer. Fortunately for him, the Austin music scene was thriving. The Armadillo World Headquarters and the hippie music scene would provide inspiration and opportunity to forge a new path.

This was an era where many Americans were hungry for change; politically, socially, and culturally. They were ready for something fresh. This was the age of fusion where jazz began having an affair with rock, and rock and country were flirting, eventually spawning the welcome offspring country rock or outlaw country. Considering his history, his artistic leanings, and his singing style that didn’t fit the Nashville country model, Willie was ripe for the new cross-over, as were his fans. He was the perfect ambassador to help usher in this young hybrid. At that time in Austin, country rock even had its own radio station. KOKE FM played only outlaw country music.

A decade after his country songs hit the charts, he had done it again, his way. In the next few years he released Shotgun Willie which included the hit “Whiskey River,” the concept album Phases and Stages including the hit “Bloody Mary Morning,” and another concept album to critical acclaim, Red Headed Stranger. The latter gave him a number one hit with his cover of “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” He had found his voice or “cleared his throat,” as he put it.

As well as writing his own songs, he has recorded songs by other artists that cover a wide spectrum of personalities and styles. He seems willing to record anything that inspires him, regardless of what world it comes from. From the Allman Brothers’ “Midnight Rider” to Townes Van Zant’s “Pancho and Lefty,” to American standards like “Unchained Melody” and “Georgia on My Mind,” to Cindy Lauper’s “Time After Time,” to Greg Brown’s “They All Went to Mexico,” and Daniel Lanois’ “ The Maker,” Willie takes these songs and makes them his own. To this listener, there is nothing sweeter than his version of “Someone to Watch Over Me,” or Leonard Cohen’s “Halleluja.”

Over the years he has performed and recorded with a who’s who of other artists including: Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Leon Russell, Ray Price, Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, Wynton Marsalis, Nora Jones, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, George Jones, B.B. King, Rosalynn Carter (wife of the former President of the United States Jimmy Carter), Sinead O’Connor, Paul Simon, Alison Krauss, Los Lonely Boys, Ringo Starr, Carol King, the Beach Boys, Snoop Dog and a list that would fill several more pages.

I once had the pleasure of meeting and spending a little time with Wynton Marsalis. It was a real pleasure to find out how down-to-earth he is. Willie Nelson may be the only other artist I would especially care to meet in person. I have read that he is very accessible to his fans, spending hours into the night getting to know perfect strangers and treating them like family. Hopefully, one day before one of us exits the planet, my dream will come true.

In a time where it seems that nothing is original anymore, and labels are placed to strictly define every artist out there, a few rare artists create their own category, their own place that defies all the pre-fabbed labels. Willie Nelson is one of those artists. He is the voice of Americana, and the essence of all music. Lucky for me and for many others, he didn’t make a good pig farmer.

Some albums I suggest:

Borderline
Stardust
Red Headed Stranger
Two Men with the Blues (with Wynton Marsalis)
Willie Nelson’s Greatest Hits and Some that Will Be
Moment of Forever