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Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, author, poet, actor, and activist. He was one of the main figures of outlaw country, a subgenre of country music.

Biography[]

Willie Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas, in 1933, and raised by his grandparents. His interest in music goes as far back as when he wrote his first song at age 7, and later joined a band at 10 years old. During high school, he was part of the Bohemian Polka as their lead guitar player and singer, touring locally with them. He joined the Air Force after graduating high school, and attended Baylor University for two years to study agriculture.

He dropped out of Baylor because of his recent success in music. Throughout the 1950s, Willie worked as a singer and songwriter and eventually moved to Nashville, where he signed a publishing contract and joined Ray Price's band as a bassist.

Career[]

He recorded his first album, ...And Then I Wrote, in 1962. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he moved back to Texas, where he returned to performing. In 1973, Nelson signed with Atlantic Records and turned to outlaw country, which included albums such as Shotgun Willie and Phases and Stages. He switched to Columbia Records in 1975, and recorded the critically acclaimed Red Headed Stranger. He recorded another outlaw country album the same year. Although Columbia was reluctant to release an album with primarily a guitar and piano for accompaniment, Nelson and Waylon Jennings insisted. The album included a cover of Fred Rose's 1945 song "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain", that had been released as a single previous to the album, and became Nelson's first number one hit as a singer. Throughout his 1975 tour, Nelson raised funds for PBS-affiliated stations across the south promoting Austin City Limits. The pilot was aired first on those stations, later being released nationwide. The positive reception of the show prompted PBS to order ten episodes for 1976, formally launching the show.

In the 1980s, he joined a country supergroup called The Highwaymen, alongside Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. In 1982, Pancho & Lefty, a duet album with Merle Haggard produced by Chips Moman was released. During the recording sessions of Pancho and Lefty, session guitarist Johnny Christopher and co-writer of "Always on My Mind", tried to pitch the song to an uninterested Haggard. Nelson, who was unaware of Elvis Presley's version of the song asked him to record it. Produced by Moman, the single of the song was released, as well as the album of the same name. The single topped Billboard's Hot Country Singles, while it reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The release won three awards during the 25th Annual Grammy Awards: Song of the Year, Best Country Song and Best Male Country Vocal Performance. The single was certified platinum; while the album was certified quadruple-platinum, and later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.

Appearance on Monk[]

He made a guest appearance in "Mr. Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger" as himself. In the episode, he accused his road manager, a man named Sonny Cross, of embezzling $400,000 from him. A day later, Sonny is found dead in an alley, with Willie standing over him as a blind woman screams for help.

The police immediately suspect Willie as the murderer, considering he, Sonny Cross, and the blind woman - Wendy Mass - were the only people to enter the alley. Wendy couldn't possibly have shot Sonny, as she is blind and one of the shots was from twenty feet away. Monk, however is determined to prove Willie is innocent, even though Wendy identifies his voice.

Learning that Monk plays the clarinet, Willie invites him to play Georgia on my Mind with his band on a radio broadcast. Monk, ecstatic, agrees, but freezes in fear when one of Willie's bandmates puts his mouth on his clarinet to test it out. He ends up whistling the tune into the microphone, disappointed. At the end of the broadcast, the police suddenly show up with a warrant for Willie's arrest.

Benjy Fleming decides to interview Wendy for a school project, giving Monk an opportunity to further question her. After some time, he comes to a realization. Monk, Sharona, Disher, and Stottlemeyer gather at a park where Monk has asked Wendy to meet him. We discover he has hired a streaker that was previously running past a few press conferences to jog through the park. Assuming she's alone, Wendy looks up as the streaker jogs by and laughs to herself. Now that they know she can see, Wendy is brought down to the station where Monk explains what happened, and she confesses immediately.

Later, at Trudy's grave, Monk and Willie perform a duet of Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain for her. Monk, teary-eyed, smiles gratefully.

Trivia[]

  • Willie Nelson was referenced in several other episodes since Monk and Trudy were his biggest fans.
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