Celebrating their 84th birthday today is...

[hampsteadclaret]

Willie Nelson..born Abbott, Texas, USA.

'Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978), made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. He was one of the main figures of outlaw country, a subgenre of country music that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana'.

I have been listening to more country and western music in the last couple of years, encouraged by Bob Harris' Thursday evening programme on Radio 2.
- not many of Willie's old C&W pals around these days [Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings.. all gone] - if you're a fan, then please join in.

This is..'Always on my mind'..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7f189Z0v0Y" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[hampsteadclaret]

"Pancho and Lefty" - Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard...this is pretty good..these boys can sing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvdmxszsDM8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[LeadBelly]

He's done a lot of very average stuff in his time (as did J Cash) but his best is very good indeed. He's quite a character too and has aged very well.
In addition to his distinctive voice, I love the sound he gets from that old Martin nylon strung guitar ("Trigger"). A real one-off, glad he's still touring and making decent albums.

[hampsteadclaret]

The Highwaymen - 'Highwayman'..this is a fab song by 4 country and western giants.

The Highwaymen on this official video are Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash

KK is now 80; WJ died in 2002, complications from diabetes; JC passed in 2003, complications from diabetes.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFkcAH-m9W0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[IanMcL]

Very recent old folks song with Loretta Lynn

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dfZxnILzN4c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[IanMcL]

Congrats to Willie, who just keeps rolling along.