Where We Live: Willie Nelson

Since his first performance in 1937 (at age four, at a Methodist gospel picnic), Willie Nelson has always done things, to paraphrase the title of one of his best songs, his own peculiar way. From the Central Texas beer joints of Waco and Hillsboro, he ascended to become one of Nashville's most prestigious songwriters. In the decades since, he has become the sparkplug of the Texas country “outlaw” revolution of the mid-Seventies, a multi-platinum selling recording artist, an A-list concert draw, a confidant of presidents, the possessor of more Grammy’s and CMA Awards than he can count, a Kennedy Center honoree, a founder of the Farm Aid philanthropic organization and even a movie star.

Since he left Abbott, a tiny farming community in the blackland prairie of Central Texas, the almost 70-year old Nelson has recorded country, pop, blues, movie soundtracks, jazz, gospel, American songbook standards, rock 'n' roll, Western Swing and more. His last two albums were, respectively, a blues album and a cildren's album. “And,” he adds with a mischievous twinkle, “I've still got a reggae album in the can.”

With the release of last year’s The Great Divide (Lost Highway Records), Nelson surpassed even his own considerable reputation for stylistic eclecticism and musical innovation. This album found Nelson paired with musical partners as diverse as Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Rob Thomas (of matchbox twenty), Bonnie Raitt, and newly-crowned CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Lee Ann Womack.

Recorded in Los Angeles under the aegisof producer Matt Serletic (matchbox twenty, Santana), The Great Divide puts Nelson front and center with some of the most adventurous songs and challenging arrangements he has ever confronted. It is an album project unlike any he has essayed before. Anyone else might be nervous but the red-headed stranger has a way of making any musical setting as instantly comfortable as a broke-in pair of cowboy boots (or, in Nelson's case, running shoes).

Throughout his career, Nelson has benefited from the presence of strong personalities behind the board. From Chet Atkins to Booker T. Jones to Jerry Wexler, Daniel Lanois, Don Was, and Chips Moman, a distinctive producer has always brought out the best in Nelson's distinctive talents, resulting in classic albums such as Yesterday’s Wine, Stardust, Red Headed Stranger, Teatro, Across the Borderline and Phases and Stages. (And, of course, Nelson is no slouch at the knobs himself). Serletic shines his award-winning talents on The Great Divide, combining Nelson’s unique voice along with the diverse sounds of today’s leading recording artists.

It's no accident that Nelson was chosen to sing America the Beautiful at the conclusion of the Tribute To Heroes all-star televised fundraiser in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. His lifetime contribution to music and humanitarian efforts has made him a national treasure.

Over the course of nearly half a century, Nelson has embodied all the faces of American music as completely as Bob Wills, Louis Armstrong or Irving Berlin (all of whose songs he has essayed over the course of his encyclopedic career).

Most recently, Nelson released a new album, The Essential, which is a two-CD set complete with over 40 years of hits, collaborations and award winning songs. Willie Nelson & Friends: Stars & Guitars, the soundtrack from Nelson’s highly-successful concert event that aired on USA Network last Memorial Day, was also just released, which is full of collaborations that Nelson has done with everyone from Sheryl Crow to Vince Gill and Jon Bon Jovi.

And he shows no sign of slowing down. “People keep asking me when I'm going to retire,” says Nelson with an ageless grin. “I tell them that all I do is play music and golf. Which one am I supposed to give up?”

Nelson also holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a martial arts specialty that thrives on balance. Quite a fitting accomplishment for an artist who has made balance a central theme in his musical career.

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