On the Road Again – The life I love is making music with my friends. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #WillieNelson #NeilYoung #Shrek

So Willie Nelson is 85 years old today. His list of recordings, collaborations, movie roles, awards and humanitarian efforts is lengthy. For as Iong as I have been a fan of music I have been aware of Willie Nelson. He is one of the most recognizable artists in the country music genre. More closely defined, he is a part of the group known as ‘outlaw country’ which helped push the limits of the cookie cutter Nashville music sound into something a little more raw and subversive. He wrote his first song when he was seven and joined his first band when he was ten. From those early days he has never looked back. From the late ’50s to the early ’70s he wrote numerous songs for other artists and played bass in Ray Price’s backing band. He recorded his first album in 1962 and by 1965 he joined the Grand Ole Opry.

Now get this…Willie Nelson ‘retired’ in 1972, and moved to Austin, Texas. It was out of the great ‘Austin’ scene that his career really took off. Through the 70s, he continued to be an influence and explored a range of projects. He starred in ‘The Electric Horseman’ with Robert Redford and began a lifelong commitment to liberal activism. He is the co-chair of the advisory board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. He is an environmentalist who has worked to create the brand ‘Willie Nelson Biodiesel’ which is made from vegetable oil. He is also on the advisory board as honorary chairman for the Texas Music Project, which is the official charity of Texas. All of this has been written and I have yet to mention today’s feature song, or two of his most recognizable accomplishments.

‘On the Road Again’ was the result of his interest in acting and movie soundtracks. Following his work in ‘The Electric Horseman’ he was approached by the executive producer of the film ‘Honeysuckle Rose’ to write a song for the movie soundtrack. The request, which as legend has it came during a flight, was to write a song about life on the road. Nelson wrote the words on a ‘barf bag’ and said he thought it should have a ‘train beat’. He ended up getting a starring role in the movie which tells the story of an aging musician who is struggling with life on the road and relationships with his family at home. ‘On the Road Again’ became Willie Nelson’s ninth #1 song and it is renowned as a classic. It resides on the Rolling Stone list of the top 500 songs of all time. It was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011.

By the mid ’80s Nelson took part in his most notable collaboration, in my opinion, and that is the formation of the outlaw super group ‘The Highwaymen’ in 1985. Joined by other country/singer/songwriter legends Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson, The Highwaymen brought the outlaw country genre to a wider audience and received a ton of critical acclaim.

In July of 1985 a famous concert took place. Live Aid was a two continent, two venue music extravaganza that served to raise money and awareness for Ethiopian famine relief. During the Philadelphia portion of that concert Bob Dylan said one sentence that got the wheels in motion for a massive annual event that is still running to this day.

I hope some of the money can help American farmers in danger of losing their farms because of mortgage debt.”

Bob Dylan

This planted the seed for ‘Farm Aid’ which serves to assist and increase awareness of the importance of family farms. ‘Farm Aid’ began with Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson and to this day they have raised over $10 million for America’s family farmers. Nelson is also president of the board of Farm Aid.

I could go on and on…

Here is Willie Nelson playing ‘On the Road Again’ to a rain soaked but enthusiastic crowd at the first ‘Farm Aid’ in 1985.

Out of the ‘Farm Aid’ collaboration came a life long friendship with Neil Young who has always revered Willie Nelson. In 2014 Neil recorded ‘On the Road Again’ on his ‘A Letter Home’ CD, which saw him cover several songs that inspired him through the years. Here he is doing the song with Willie in 2016. Keep in mind he was 83 at the time of this show…and he is ‘on the road again’ this summer at the ripe old age of 85.

Shrek fans will remember this scene where even ‘Donkey’ tips his hat to the famous ‘outlaw’ of country. This always makes me smile.

Have a great day. If you are lucky you may be able to take some time to make some music with your friends.