Apr 14, 1986
“Highwayman” takes Single Record of the Year honors for Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and producer Chips Moman in the 21st Academy of Country Music awards, telecast by NBC from Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.
www.Tennesseean.com
by: Dave Paulson
Remember when more than two dozen big-time musicians — including George Strait, Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow and Kris Kristofferson — gathered at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to pay tribute to Willie Nelson? And then the country legend played a set of his own classics?
Well, for the last 14 months, we’d just say you had to be there — but soon, you’ll be able to see it on TV.
Cable network A&E will premiere “Willie Nelson: American Outlaw” on Sunday, April 12, at 9 p.m. CT.
It’s part of A&E’s new slate of country music programming that also includes “Biography” editions on Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.
“Biography: Dolly” premieres Sunday, April 12, at 7 p.m. CT, and “Biography: Kenny Rogers” will follow on Monday, April 13, at 8 p.m. CT.
Other performers at the 2019 tribute concert included Chris Stapleton, Alison Krauss, John Mellencamp, Lee Ann Womack, Eric Church, Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris, the Avett Brothers and Jack Johnson.
Believe it or not, before this show, Nelson and Strait — two giants of Texas country music — had never performed together.
That was made abundantly, amusingly clear with a brand-new original tune from the two, wherein the “King of Country” laments, “I ain’t never got to sing one with Willie.”
We asked, and you delivered. The voting period of the Pop Awards 2020 is over and your votes have been counted. A big thank you to all the fans for coming out to show love for your favorite artists, and to the expert panel for casting their ballots. The impact of all the nominees on their fans was genuinely felt by the astounding response. It was a tight contest and we can’t wait to reveal the results. Pop Magazine is ready to present the winners of 2020, the five recipients of our precious awards. We will be back next year and hope you will join in again. Now we are delighted to announce the winners of the third annual Pop Awards!
Pop Awards 2020: Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Willie Nelson
With eight Grammys, several Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum records, and a career that has lasted more than six decades, Willie Nelson is this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Very few artists can boast such an illustrious career, and even fewer artists are still as active at his age as he is today. His fans came forward and have voted to honor this legend for his tremendous musical achievements. Congratulations to Willie Nelson on winning the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pop Awards 2020!
March 8, 1980
Willie Nelson’s “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” reached #1 on the Billboard country charts.https://t.co/RlCeoegqH9 pic.twitter.com/96t1cskAgS— RedDirt_Roots (@RedDirt_Roots) March 8, 2020
When Willie Nelson recorded his concept album Red Headed Stranger in Garland, Texas, in 1975, he insisted on simplicity for the tracks. But according to the books Willie, by Michael Bane, that simplicity proved a bit too much for the studio musicians and his record label.
As Willie recorded the song, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” he stopped the session, played through the tune with just guitar and vocal and asked the band to play only what was necessary. Several of the musicians, realizing that they basically had nothing to do, voluntarily got up and left the session.
Willie remembers that his record label was also not exactly receptive to the bare-bones product. “They expected more Shotgun Willie, something more tempo,” he says in the book. But the label released the album along with the sing, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” which surprisingly started climbing the charts. It became Willie’s first No. 1 hit in October of 1975.
“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” was also responsible for another Willie milestone. On Feb. 28, 1976, Willie picked up his first Grammy award, winning the honor for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male.
On February 10, 1986, “The HighwayMan” album, is certified gold for Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson
1. Highwayman 2. The Last Cowboy Song 3. Jim, I Wore A Tie Today 4. Big River 5. Committed To Parkview 6. Desperados Waiting For A Train 7. Deportee (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos) 8. Welfare Line 9. Against The Wind 10. The Twentieth Century Is Almost Over
On January 31, 1977, Willie Nelson was presented with an American Music Award for Favorite Country Single for “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Congratulation to @lukasnelson & @WillieNelson who both won #Grammys last night! Willie has now won 10 Grammy Awards, this year for Best Country Solo Performance for “Ride Me Back Home.” Lukas Nelson earned one on the same night for his work on the soundtrack to A Star Is Born. pic.twitter.com/KZxB3qkpfC
— Willie's Reserve (@WilliesReserve) January 27, 2020
www.tasteofcountry.com
The 2020 Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance has been awarded to Willie Nelson for his “Ride Me Back Home,” from his 2019 album of the same name
Nelson did not attend the Grammy Premiere Ceremony, where the award was announced, so host Luis Fonsi accepted the award on his behalf.
Nominees in this category this year included Tyler Childers for “All Your’n,” Ashley McBryde‘s “Girl Goin’ Nowhere,” Blake Shelton for “God’s Country” and Tanya Tucker‘s “Bring My Flowers Now.”
Over his career, Nelson has been nominated for 52 Grammys. His most recent win was in 2019 for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (for My Way). He has previously won for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in 2016 for Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin, Best Country Collaboration With Vocals in 2007 for “Lost Highway” and again in 2002 for “Mendocino County Line.”
In 2000, he was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to music. In 1990, he won the Grammy Legend Award, and in 1986 he was honored with the President’s Merit Award.
In 1982 he was awarded with the Best Male Country Vocal Performance for “Always on My Mind” and once again in 1978 for “Georgia On My Mind.” He took home the Best Country Song for “On The Road Again” in 1980. “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” took home Best Country Vocal Performance By A Duo or Group in 1978.
His first Grammy Award win was in 1975 at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards for “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain” for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
When Willie Nelson recorded his concept album Red Headed Stranger in Garland, Texas, in 1975, he insisted on simplicity for the tracks. But according to the books Willie, by Michael Bane, that simplicity proved a bit too much for the studio musicians and his record label.
As Willie recorded the song, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” he stopped the session, played through the tune with just guitar and vocal and asked the band to play only what was necessary. Several of the musicians, realizing that they basically had nothing to do, voluntarily got up and left the session.
Willie remembers that his record label was also not exactly receptive to the bare-bones product. “They expected more Shotgun Willie, something more tempo,” he says in the book. But the label released the album along with the sing, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” which surprisingly started climbing the charts. It became Willie’s first No. 1 hit in October of 1975.
“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” was also responsible for another Willie milestone. On Feb. 28, 1976, Willie picked up his first Grammy award, winning the honor for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male.
Willie Nelson to be honored at Grammy week concert https://t.co/KUw1rbKCmo
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) January 15, 2020
On January 18, 1979, “Willie and Family Live” was at #1 on the country music album chart. The double album was recorded live at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Nevada in April 1978. EmmyLou Harris and Johnny Paycheck are featured on the album.
Side one
“Whiskey River” – 3:40
“Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)” – 3:24
“Funny How Time Slips Away” – 2:45
“Crazy” – 1:47
“Night Life” – 3:55
“If You’ve Got the Money (I’ve Got the Time)” – 1:44
“Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” – 3:33
“I Can Get Off on You” – 2:06
Side two
“If You Could Touch Her at All” – 3:00
“Good Hearted Woman” – 2:57
“Red Headed Stranger Medley” 14:25
Incl:
“Time of the Preacher” – 2:13
“I Couldn’t Believe It Was True” – 1:03
“Medley: Blue Rock Montana/Red Headed Stranger” – 2:40
“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” – 2:29
“Red Headed Stranger” – 4:31
4. “Under the Double Eagle” – 2:43
Side three
“Till I Gain Control Again” – 5:59
“Bloody Mary Morning” – 3:33
“I’m a Memory” – 1:52
“Mr. Record Man” – 2:01
“Hello Walls” – 1:29
“One Day at a Time” – 2:05
“Will the Circle Be Unbroken” – 2:18
“Amazing Grace” – 5:12
Side four
“Take This Job and Shove It” – 2:52
“Uncloudy Day” – 3:40
“The Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line” – 1:29
“A Song for You” – 2:43
“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” – 1:56
“Georgia on My Mind” – 4:09
“I Gotta Get Drunk” – 1:22
“Whiskey River” – 2:42
“The Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line” – 2:12
www.latimes.com
by: Randy Lewis
Willie Nelson will be saluted by peers and admirers including John Prine, Tanya Tucker, Shooter Jennings, Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi, Calexico, Andrew Bird, I’m With Her and Yola at the Americana Music Assn.’s annual pre-Grammy Awards benefit concert Jan. 25 at the Troubadour in West Hollywood.
The War and Treaty, Iron & Wine, Madison Cunningham, Gregory Alan Isakov, Ida Mae, Sierra Ferrell and others still to be announced also are slated to take part, according to the association’s announcement.
The evening celebrates the Recording Academy’s recognition of Americana musicians and typically uses the work of an Americana luminary as a focal point. Prine was the honoree last year and will be making his second appearance at the event to pay homage to the 86-year-old Texas singer and songwriter, who is not expected to attend.
Tickets are $75 and proceeds benefit the association. General sales begin at 10 a.m. Friday.
Previous honorees include Everly Brothers singer and songwriter Phil Everly, Eagles founding member Glenn Frey and country queen Loretta Lynn.
www.wincountry.com
Multiple country stars will have their recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame this year.
The Recording Academy announced today that 26 recordings will added to the Grammy Hall of Fame, which preserves prominent songs of historical significance that are at least 25 years old.
Among the 2020 selections are Patsy Cline ‘s “Walkin’ After Midnight,” which became her breakthrough single after its 1957 release, reaching number two on the Billboard country chart. Also on the list is Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard ‘s collaboration on “Pancho and Lefty,” the title track of their acclaimed 1983 album.
Other country inductees include “I’ll Fly Away” by country gospel group The Chuck Wagon Gang , one of the top-selling gospel songs in history, plus the Allman Brothers Band album Eat a Peach, and “I’m a Man of Constant Sorrow” by The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys .
Nancy Sinatra ‘s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin,'” “Oh Mary Don’t You Weep” by gospel act Swan Silverstones , and “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live” by Blind Alfred Reed , who recorded during the famous Bristol Sessions in 1927, will also be inducted.
Elton John , Neil Diamond and Joni Mitchell are among the many other multi-genre acts whose work will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.