Archive for the ‘Books’ Category

Dave Thomas book, “Picnic: Willie Nelson’s Tradition” out in April — PreOrder now!

Tuesday, February 20th, 2024

It’s so exciting! Dave Thomas’ book about Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnic will be coming out two months. Dave is doing several book signings, if you are lucky enough to live close enough to go and you can buy the book directly from him, and get it signed, or you can pre-order now on Amazon.

Dave Thomas book, “Picnic: Willie’s 4th of July Tradition is available now!

Sunday, January 21st, 2024


Dave Thomas talks about writing “Picnic: Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Tradition”

EXCERPT 
From the sixth chapter:

As Robert Earl Keen launched into his newly revved-up version of “The Road Goes On Forever,” the first empty beer can flew into the air. Then another. Then a dozen more. Then hundreds at once, all rising and falling until the area in front of the stage looked like an old-fashioned popcorn popper. A not-quite empty can flew over the stage, leaking Shiner beer. 

“I remember the police talking about how Robert was about to whip the crowd into a frenzy,” said Doc Mason, the Picnic’s chief medical officer. VelAnne Clifton, Luckenbach’s manager at the time, remembered it well: “About three or four thousand Aggies went apeshit.”

Reflecting on it twenty-five years later, Keen still sounded a little awestruck. “I don’t know what’s really happening at this point.”

In the months before Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnic first came to historic Luckenbach, the community had feared that it would be too rowdy. Gillespie County Sheriff Milton Jung had diplomatically handled neighbors’ concerns, given notice to Picnic producers on what he expected, and worked with Luckenbach to make sure they were ready. So far, the Picnic had unfolded with little drama. But as Jung watched the crowd react to Keen, his own deep-seated fears came back. “Yeah, I figured that’s when all hell was gonna break loose.”–

Pre-order Dave’s book “Picnic: Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Tradition” here on Amazon.com

Me and Paul

Sunday, November 5th, 2023

Energy Follows Thought

Tuesday, September 5th, 2023

Willie Nelson Book signing at Barnes & Noble in NYC (May 7, 2015) (“It’s a Long Story: My Life”)

Sunday, May 7th, 2023
story

Willie Nelson’s new biography will be released this week, and he will be travelling and appearing on television to talk about it.  

Next Thursday, May 7th, he will be signing books at the Barnes & Noble on East 17th Street in New York City.

Thursday May 07, 2015 12:00 PM
Union Square
33 East 17th Street
New York
NY 10003
212-253-0810

Willie Nelson: A Little Golden Book Biography

Tuesday, September 27th, 2022


Willie Nelson, singer-songwriter of such hits as “On the Road Again” and “You Were Always on My Mind,” is the subject of this terrific Little Golden Book biography. Children–as well as adult fans–will be inspired by Willie’s activism and work with Farm Aid and how he always stayed true to himself by dressing how he liked and creating the music he wanted to share! 

You can pre-orderr yours here on Amazon.

Enter to win signed copy of, “Me and Paul: Untold Stories of a Fabled Friendship”

Tuesday, September 20th, 2022

“Me and Paul, Untold Tales of a Fabled Friendship” by Willie Nelson, with David Ritz

Sunday, September 18th, 2022

“Me and Paul: Untold Tales of a Fabled Friendship,” the latest book written by Willie, with David Ritz, is set to be released Tuesday, September 20 by Harper Horizon Books. and you can pre-order it on Willie’s website here. The site is offering a 10% discount for first time purchases, also

This book is everything it’s title promises: it’s all about Willie Nelson and his drummer Paul English. It’s the book we’ve all wanted to read, a book of stories about their friendship and life on the road. Chapter after chapter of stories about Paul supporting, encouraging, protecting Willie for over 70 years, from early hard scrap days in Fort Worth in the ’50’s to playing sold out shows around the world, donating their time and energy to help raise money to support family farmers, through movies in Hollywood and around the country and the world..

Willie wrote Me and Paul in collaboration with journalist David Ritz, who worked with Willie before on It’s a Long Story: My Life and Me written in 2015. Ritz is a Grammy-winning music journalist and author. Right at the begining, Mr. Ritz lets us know that, “I’ve taken poetic license to adorn their stories,” and that Willie and Paul most likely take the same poetic license when they tell stories. The stories, so many never published anywhere, weave together an epic story of 70 years of friendship and Paul’s support, encouragement, protection and care of Willie. On tour he was bodyguard, accountant and known to carry a gun to make sure band got paid. Sadly, Paul passed away 87 years old in 2020.

In the ’70’s, Willie wrote a song with same name as this book, “Me and Paul.” A highlight and fan favorite of every show, was when the band would perform that song Willie wrote celebrating their friendship. Every time, at the end of the song Willie would turn around and Paul would stand up behind his drum set, and the two would shake hands. It gave me good bumps. “Me and Paul” was also name of a studio album Willie released in 1985.

This is an entertaining, touching, book. It talks about triumphs, disappointments, good times, hard times, scary times. It’s very entertaining, and makes you love WIllie and Paul even more, if that’s possible

“Me and Sister Bobbie”

Thursday, July 7th, 2022

“Me and Paul”, new book about Willie Nelson and Paul English

Thursday, June 30th, 2022
++++

www.RollingStone.com
by: John Freeman

Willie Nelson will explore his many adventures with late drummer Paul English in his new book, Me and Paul: Untold Tales of a Fabled Friendshipset to be released Sept. 20 via Harper Horizon.

A member of Nelson’s band since 1966, English was renowned for his tough, outlaw style and served as the group’s de facto bodyguard in addition to his drumming duties. He adopted a persona called “The Devil,” matching the name with an evil-looking goatee and wearing a cape. He earned a reputation for fist fights as well as getting his mates out of dangerous situations on the road. Nelson immortalized him in song with 1971’s “Me & Paul,” a travelogue of sorts that chronicled some memorable — and possibly illegal — mishaps in Laredo, Milwaukee, and Buffalo.

English remained a regular member of Nelson’s band up until his 2020 death at the age of 87.

“There’s something about my friendship with Paul that reminds me of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn,” Nelson said in a statement. “Tom was more civilized and Huck was wilder. Although I was plenty wild at age 22, I’d have to say Paul was wilder. Like Tom and Huck, though, we became a team. Nothing could or would ever separate us.”

Nelson wrote Me and Paul in collaboration with journalist David Ritz, who previously worked with Nelson on 2015’s It’s a Long Story: My Life and Me.

The 89-year-old Nelson is currently headlining shows on the Outlaw Music Festival tour with guests including Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Brothers Osborne, Allison Russell, and Charley Crockett.

Read article here.

Me and Sister Bobbie

Saturday, May 21st, 2022

Willie Nelson: The Little Black Book

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021

Willie Nelson. The Little Black Book is a collection of quotes from the legendary artist, singer, songwriter. They’ve been carefully selected for their wisdom, inspiration and humor. You’ll also find quotes that serve only to tell a little about the living legend that is Willie Nelson. Keep it out in the open so you can pick it up for a quick dose of inspiration whenever you need it. They say we should learn from the best. Willie Nelson’s Little Black Book is one great way to do that.

The Willie Way

Friday, November 26th, 2021

www.cheatsheet.com
by: Katie Rock

Sometimes life can get us all down, but country star Willie Nelson has some great advice for achieving contentment by living life “the Willie Way.”

From his book The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart — an autobiographical collection of advice on life — here are ten tips for staying on the road from the family man and legend of outlaw country.

Tip #1: Live life by the cowboy way

As Nelson writes, “The cowboy way springs from common sense and from a strong sense of right and wrong, without regard for consequences.”

To him, that also means earning respect “through the positive quality of your actions” and not projecting blame for your own problems onto others.

Tip #2: Drink cool water

Though Nelson understands the appeal of a cold beer on a hot day, he recommends reaching for another drink when feeling parched — water. He reminds us all to drink more water if not already getting the recommended amount. And according to Harvard, that’s four to six cups daily for generally healthy people, but varies depending on the individual.https://1daecd55e13e7d73966564b230bdd74c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

“The bottom line is,” Nelson writes, “you should drink water when you’re thirsty.”

Tip #3: Breathe

Nelson gives a lot of well-deserved credit to the simple act of breathing. “When I was very young and just learning music, my grandmother taught me that voice control depended on breathing from way down deep,” he writes. “Through deep breathing, you strengthen your lungs, your vocal cords, and every other part of your body, including your heart.”  

And deep breathing has been beneficial for “Shotgun Willie” Nelson in more ways than singing and staying alive. “Deep breathing can work wonders for your physical, mental, and emotional state,” he offers.  

Music gave Nelson the freedom to move around the world, which inspires his songwriting. He notes that when it comes to inspiration for life, “The road is filled with possibilities.”

Tip #4: Meditate

According to Nelson, meditation is one of the best ways to get in touch with his inner thoughts. “Sit. Listen. Breathe. Dream. Renew,” he suggests.

And he says, “When you come back to the thoughts of your body … all you need to do is remember to take a part of a simpler you on your journey through the world.”   

Tip #5: Let it go

One thing Nelson recommends not doing is going “through life pissed off about traffic and jackasses.”

“It’s not a perfect world,” the marijuana enthusiast points out, “and sometimes you just have to let your anger go.”

And one way of achieving that anger-free mind state is letting “the jerks of the world” serve as an example of what others shouldn’t be. He writes, “If someone’s a jerk, that’s their misfortune, not yours.”

Tip #6: Some lessons come twice learned

According to Nelson, some important lessons may be learned more than once. These are things like patience, honesty, and wanting less and giving more.

But almost above all, he reminds readers not to forget one lesson — the benefits of laughter. “There’s nothing better for your mind and body than a great laugh,” he writes, adding, “except for great sex, of course.”

Tip #7: Avoid feeling the ‘nothing I can do about it now’ feeling

Once something is said, it can’t be unsaid, and Nelson recommends an easy way to avoid the regret of already spoken words. “Keep your words sweet,” he suggests. “You may have to eat them.”

Most people have to learn this one the hard way, including Nelson. “Understanding regret has been one of the hardest lessons there is,” he notes.

Tip #8: Get on the road again

Something Nelson does to enjoy life a little more is stay on the road. “Even when I was a kid, I liked the idea of being on the road,” he shares. “My buddy Zeke and I used to hop freight trains to nowhere.”

Tip #9: Take care of the physical and the spiritual

While Nelson has many tips for staying mentally fit, he also emphasizes the importance of physical fitness. “If I didn’t work to keep in good shape, I couldn’t tour the way I do, or sing nearly as long every night,” he admits.

And for Nelson, that could mean yoga, jogging, or even martial arts. Notably, he received a black belt in Tae Kwon Do at 69.

Tip #10: Sages are ‘real people’

While navigating life, Nelson thinks, “All of us need true sages to lead us through the world.”

And like the Tao philosopher Sun Tzu, he likes to think sages are “real” people. By that, he means people who “comprehend what is beneficial and what is harmful,” among other things. Those individuals might harmonize with nature or improve their own health through calmness. And while he didn’t name names, it sounds like his old friend Dolly Parton might fit his description.

To sum it all up, Nelson — now 88 — concludes The Tao of Willie with a simple message. The key to a life of contentment is finding the happiness in your own heart. “Open your heart,” he writes, “and give love a try. You’ll be amazed at what happens.”

Willie Nelson talks about new book, “Me and Sister Bobbie”

Sunday, November 14th, 2021

In his new book, “Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band,” country music legend Willie Nelson talks about his unbreakable bond with his sister Bobbie. As Harry Smith spoke with them for TODAY, they talked about being raised by their grandparents and their lifelong love of music. Regarding rumors of his death, Nelson jokes, “I hope they aren’t true.”

Willie Nelson’s Letters to America

Friday, November 5th, 2021

ORDER HERE

“Willie Nelson is a national treasure.  At different points in my life he has been my Shaman, my preacher, my teacher, my north, my south, my anchor and my friend.  I put my faith in the music and the man.” – Eric Church

Following his bestselling memoir, It’s a Long Story, Willie Nelson now delivers his most personal and intimate thoughts and stories in Willie Nelson’s Letters to America. 

From his opening letter “Dear America” to his “Dear Willie” epilogue, Willie digs deep into his heart and soul–and his music catalog–to lift us up in difficult times, and to remind us of the endless promise and continuous obligations of all Americans–to themselves, to one another, and to their nation.

In a series of letters straight from the heart, Willie sends his thanks and his thoughts to

  • Americans past, present, and future,
  • his closest family members, and
  • his personal heroes, from our founding fathers to the leaders of future generations.

Willie’s letters are rounded out with the moving lyrics to some of his most famous and insightful songs, including “Let Me Be a Man,” “Family Bible,” “Summer of Roses,” “Me and Paul,” and “Yesterday’s Wine.”