Austin Music Source

By charles warford

February 7, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this

It was the year of the flood, Austin’s not Noah’s and Willie agreed to come and help with the lighting of the Special Olympic flame. He slipped into Memorial without being spotted and sat and watched the parade then ran with the torch around the track, up to the 17th row in the north end zone to the torch as the first full blast of the rains came. With the help of the Almighty he lifted the torch runner to the edge of the cauldren and flame errupted. Willie then went below the stadium and signed programs for the olypians until no one was waiting. He had not said anything but gave each his full attention. As he walked away one girl yelled out, “Thank you Mr. Willie Nelson!” The next year Mr. Nelson and the band somehow found time to play for the Olympic dance in the somehow made available Erwin Center. With the Olympians I would say, “Thank You Mr. Willie Nelson!”

By Pat

February 7, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

Too bad Willie junped on board recently with the Alex Jones 9/11 denialists. I guess wisdom doesn;t always come with age. Oh well, he’s still a legend. Oy.

By MARGIE

February 7, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this

My friend insisted I attend a Willie Nelson concert in the early 90s. He was at a small venue in San Bernadino, Calif. After the concert Willie stayed on stage to shake hands and sign. She insisted I go up and shake his hand. I had not been out in public for over 6mo. let alone talk to a stranger. I had developed a Anxiety, Panic Attack disorder, was unable to leave house or be in public places. My friend knew how I loved Willie and his music it was all I listened to. So I went to concert , she promised to never leave my side and to take me right home.
I did go up to the stage scared as hell, then Willie shook my hand and said hello, I answered with Hi I’m Margie. From that moment on I was never afraid of any place or thing again. He touched me in a way only God knows and from that moment on I went to every concert I could. I made my way backstage thru the graciousness of his people that surround him. I was a new person. I will always be greatful to the Man and his Music as he showed me thru his sougs and touch it was ok to be me . I was in my late fiftys at the time, now I will be 72 this month on the 28th. I don’t go to all the concerts anymore, unless he is in SO Calif. however those were some of my very best times. He is a gentleman and a will always be my dear sweet Man. Love Ya Willie Happy Birthday yep= its me Margie

By Jerry Garvin

February 16, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

About May of 1969 Willie Nelson came to KVET 1300 Radio where we had changed formats from Middle of the Road music to 24 hour a day Country. He wanted to see the Program Director which was me about a job as a DJ. We had hired Sammie Allred the month before, we had a complete DJ line-up and no room for him. I was the only one in the building who recognized him. Someone had given me a quart of whiskey so I’d just gotten off the air at 10:00/AM and Sammie was on. Willie and I went bar-hopping and were refused service at “Nero’s Nook” because Willie didn’t have a sport jacket on instead of the Levi jacket he was wearing. as we came out Willie spotted a big trash can, put it in a grocery shopping-cart and sent it down the incline toward the grocery store. We left quickly and I don’t know how many cars that cart hit. We made a couple more stops as Willie opened his door wide as we were riding along in my brand new ‘69 Firebird ending up at the “Horse-Shoe Lounge.” We finished the bottle about dark and suddenly Willie disappeared. I went to my car and he wasn’t there so I drove north on Lamar toward the radio station where Willies older car was and found him walkin on Lamar with black boots, Levi jeans and jacket plus a black cowboy hat. I stopped and made him get in so I could take him to his car before he got runover. He left going south on Lamar saying he was going to his sisters out Bee Caves Road. I was right behind him when we got to Barton Springs Road and Lamar. Instead of going out Bee cave road he turned left toward Congress. I went straight south to my apartment. Haven’t had a conversation with him since.

By Joseph Valencia

February 16, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

I met Willie at the Broken Spoke on Lamar back in 1977. I was brand new to Austin and attending UT. I asked him for an autograph and he invited me to sit down and finish my longneck beer with him. He asked me, Joseph, do you play the guitar?” I said “No, Willie, I don’t.” He replied, “Son, that’s the only difference bewteen you and me. I Play the guitar and you don’t. Now, have a good time and enjoy the music.”

He won me over as a huge fan that night, and even though I didn’t care much for country music, I went out and bought all of his albums over the next coming months. Willie is Austin, and I hope there is going to be a statue of him also down at Lady Bird Lake!

By Jan

February 19, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

Thanks, Willie. My life would’ve been so totally different had it not been for you. I’ve loved you since I was very, very young and listened to your 45’s while my Mom (who went to Panther Hall every time you played there) used to iron our family’s laundry (and other people’s for extra money) right in the middle of our kitchen. We would dance to your music,,and now I have beautiful childhood memories of that. I have seen you hundreds of times, in Texas, Louisana, Colorado, Oklahoma, and even in Dublin, Ireland.You have been a part of my life in everyway..the happy times,,the rough or sad times,,your music was always there. You are the wind beneath my wings. I have loved you all my life. And I will love you for the rest of my life. Wishing you a very happy 75th birthday, Willie (and many, many more!).