WIllie and Kris at the AVA's!

Country music legend and Air Force veteran Willie Nelson introduces his great friend Kris Kristofferson who makes an emotional speech accepting the Veteran Of The Year Award. LINK: Youtube

Many people may have forgot about his time in the U.S. Army. He is the son of an Air Force General, and a accomplished Golden Gloves boxer, and he graduated from Pomona College with a B.S. degree, and then became a Rhodes Scholar from Oxford University.
He joined the U.S. Army at the prompting of his father. After graduating from Officer Candidate School he attended and graduated from both Army Airborne and Ranger training in the very top of each class. He was selected for U. S. Army Special Forces Training but refused so that he could attend pilot training where he earned his wings, and became an accomplished U.S. Army helicopter (gun ship) pilot, and achieved the rank of Captain.
He was about to be promoted to the rank of Major, and appointed to teach at West Point when he resigned his commission from the Army to go into music and acting. You can tell in this video that his time in the military means a lot to him.

Willie Nelson Gets No Special Treatment

A country judge in Sierra Blanca, Texas, says Willie Nelson will not get special consideration in her court despite a country prosecutor's plan to have the singer perform a song as part of a plea deal on a marijuana charge.

The country icon was arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession in November when his tour bus was stopped by authorities at a checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, a West Texas community located near the border of Mexico.

Hudspeth County attorney Kit Bramblett's proposed plea bargain calls for Nelson to perform "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain" in the courtroom and pay a small fine and court costs.

County judge Becky Dean-Walker seems to disagree. "Just because he's a star, I don't think he should receive any special treatment," she told the Big Bend Sentinel newspaper in Marfa, Texas. "I believe everybody should be treated the same."

Nelson, 77, has openly acknowledged his use of marijuana and serves as co-chairman of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). LINK

Willie Nelson - Sweet Memories - New Album 2007

Willie Nelson performed a lot of new songs at his gig at the Paradiso in January 2007. Here's Sweet Memories, an old song that will be released on March 20, 2007 on the new album Last Of The Breed. Willie recorded this song already in the 60's, but that version has not been widely available for years. LINK: Youtube

Willie Nelson Abandons Usual Routine for Special Performance in Nashville

Willie Nelson is certainly a treasure trove of American music and a master interpreter of all styles. As if to prove this, he departed from his normal routine to play a concert dominated by cover songs Thursday night (Nov. 5) at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Even more surprising, perhaps, is that he didn't use his usual touring band for the show.

Once the anticipation finally ended, Nelson took the floor just before 9 p.m. to an extra-excited audience. He mentioned how good it felt to be on that particular stage, saying simply, "Now, let me find something to play."

After the pre-requisite "Whiskey River," his quickly-formed band of Nashville session musicians, including Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale, deftly felt their way through songs that seemed to just pop into Nelson's head. LINK

"Willie Nelson Whiskey River"


Willie Nelson opens Riverbend 2009 with Whiskey River. LINK: Youtube
Not sure if this is the video for that performance but it is Willie singing Whiskey River.

Eric Clapton and Willie Nelson - "Nightlife"

This one is by two undisputed legends. Performed in New York City, 2003 on the occasion of Willie Nelson's 70th birthday.

For Clapton performing "Layla" and the history of the song, see here.

Even better is the story behind "Tears in Heaven.".

LINK, Via: Youtube