Willie
Official Newsletter
January 1979
Willie Nelson and Family at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Nevada (January 5 – 11, 1979)
“What can I say? I was able to see almost all the shows. Two a nights for a week and all sold-out. Some of the highlights for me inlcuded Willie speaking to Neil Sedaka, who was in Saturday night’s audience. Willie started to sing “The Time of the Preacher” and spotted Sedaka. Then Willie stopped and said, “I’d like to introduce one of the great songwriters, Neil Sedaka. Neil, we’re going to do a couple of songs from an album we have out called “The Red Headed Stranger” (as if Sedaka didn’t know it). Also, Willie sang “Let’s go back to Luckenbach, Texsas with Poodie and Schroeder and the boys” when he sang ‘Luckenbach, Texas.’
There was the beauty and song of Lorri Collins, Merle Haggard played a complete set with Willie & Family on several shows. What a treat! Merle and Willie sang “White Line Fever,” “Milk Cow Blues”, “Faded Love” and “Today I Started Loving You Again.” There were the jams with Asleep at the Wheel, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson and Family on stage — 12 musicians. What a show! The energy shared between the musicians and the audience was magic. Thank you, Willie Nelson & Family.”
— Jim Freeman