Jump to content

Family (Willie Nelson's band)

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Tom.Reding (talk | contribs) at 14:00, 25 May 2018 (+{{Authority control}} (1 source from Wikidata), WP:GenFixes on, using AWB). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Family
Willie Nelson & Family performing in Washington, D.C., in 2012
Willie Nelson & Family performing in Washington, D.C., in 2012
Background information
GenresCountry
Years active1973 (1973)–present
MembersBobbie Nelson
Paul English
Mickey Raphael
Billy English
Kevin Smith
Past membersJody Payne
Bee Spears
Websitewillienelson.com

The Family is Willie Nelson's touring and recording group. Nelson, who did not manage through the 1960s to succeed as a singer, retired after the failure of his 1971 album Yesterday's Wine. The following year, he returned from retirement rejuvenated by the burgeoning music movement of Austin, Texas.

In 1973, he formed a new backing band. The new lineup consisted of some of the members of his old road band "The Record Men," with the addition of new members. The original lineup included his sister, Bobbie, on the piano; drummer Paul English; harmonicist Mickey Raphael; bassist Bee Spears; and guitarist Jody Payne. The current lineup includes all the members but Jody Payne, who retired in 2008, and Bee Spears, who died in 2011. Billy English joined in 2010 to help his brother Paul after he suffered a stroke the same year. Replacing Spears, Kevin Smith joined the band in 2011.

The Record Men

During the 1960s, while recording as an RCA Records artist, Nelson was backed in the studio by session musicians, while he also had a road band.[1] In 1966, he formed a new lineup for his road band, consisting of Johnny Bush on guitar; Jimmy Day on the steel guitar; Paul English on drums; and David Zettner on bass. The band was originally named "The Offenders", but after it was rejected by the promoters, the name was changed to "The Record Men", after Nelson's single "Mr. Record Man".[2] Zettner left the band in 1968 after he was drafted.[3] He was replaced on the bass by his friend Bee Spears.[4] While playing in the band, Johnny Bush also played as a solo act on the package of the Willie Nelson Show. After Zettner was discharged from the military he returned to the band, and Spears started to play for Bush.[5] Bush left The Record Men to concentrate on his solo act a few months later.[1] After a brief exit of Jimmy Day to play with Ray Price's Cherokee Cowboys, Paul English's older brother, Oliver, joined for nine months playing the steel guitar.[6] In 1969 Jimmy Day and David Zettner returned, while Billy English, Paul English's younger brother, joined to play the drums.[7]

By 1971, after nearly a decade with RCA, Nelson had no major success.[8] Meanwhile, his latest album Yesterday's Wine failed to chart and to meet RCA expectations.[9][10] Although his contract was not over, Nelson decided to retire because of the number of failures he had had.[11]

Forming the Family

He moved to Austin, Texas, where the burgeoning hippie music scene rejuvenated the singer. His popularity in Austin soared as he played his own brand of country music marked by country, folk and jazz influences.[12] In 1972, Nelson's friend Darrell Royal, introduced him harmonicist Mickey Raphael during a jam session.[13] Nelson soon returned to the recording under a new contract with Atlantic Records.[14] His sister Bobbie, who performed on piano in Nelson's band during his childhood throughout the Texas Honky-Tonk circuit, joined the band during the recording of Shotgun Willie.[15] After Nelson's relationship with Jimmy Day became turbulent, due to his habitual drinking, and after he was shot by Paul English during a dispute, Day left shortly after recording Shotgun Willie.[16] Nelson retired the steel guitar from his backing, using Raphael's harmonica to replace the steel guitar on the melody lines.[17] He later also hired Merle Haggard's guitarist Jody Payne.[18] The final lineup consisted of Bobbie Nelson (piano), Paul English (drums), Mickey Raphael (harmonica), Bee Spears (bass) and Jody Payne (guitar).[19][20][21] The band that became known as the Family,[22] performed together for the first time at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas, where they were acclaimed by the audience.[23]

In 2010, Billy English started to help his brother, Paul, to play the drums after he suffered a stroke the same year. In 2011, Kevin Smith joined the band as the bassist after the death of Bee Spears earlier the same year. Smith had already backed Nelson on his 2009 album Willie and the Wheel.[21] Willie & Family tours North America in the bio-diesel bus Honeysuckle Rose V, which is fueled by Bio-Willie.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 193.
  2. ^ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 180, 184.
  3. ^ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 182.
  4. ^ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 183.
  5. ^ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 184.
  6. ^ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 194.
  7. ^ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 199.
  8. ^ Kienzle, Richard 2003, p. 248.
  9. ^ Kienzle, Richard 2003, p. 249.
  10. ^ Kienzle, Richard (1997). "Willie Nelson: Yesterday's Wine". Yesterday's Wine (CD). Nelson, Willie. BMG Heritage.
  11. ^ Nelson, Willie; Shrake,Bud; Shrake, Edwin 2000, p. 167.
  12. ^ Reid, Jan; Sahm Shawn 2010, p. 79.
  13. ^ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 255, 256.
  14. ^ Harden, Lydia Dixon; Hoekstra, Dave; McCall, Michael; Morris, Edward; Williams, Janet 1996, p. 169.
  15. ^ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 251.
  16. ^ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 256.
  17. ^ Thomson, Graeme 2012, p. 62.
  18. ^ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 257.
  19. ^ Milner, Jay Dunston 1998, p. 183.
  20. ^ Milner, Jay Dunston 1998, p. 184.
  21. ^ a b "Willie Nelson's Musical Family has Deep Roots". Pantagraph. Lee Enterprises. June 7, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  22. ^ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 255.
  23. ^ Milner, Jay Dunston 1998, p. 185.
  24. ^ "Willie Nelson's had a 'Crazy' career IN CONCERT – Willie Nelson and Family". The Vancouver Province. Postmedia Network. June 28, 2007. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

Books

  • Thomson, Graeme (2012). Willie Nelson: The Outlaw. Random House. ISBN 978-1-448-13341-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Harden, Lydia Dixon; Hoekstra, Dave; McCall, Michael; Morris, Edward; Williams, Janet (1996). The Stars of Country Music:The Legends & The New Breed. Publications International, Ltd. ISBN 978-1-56173-697-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Kienzle, Richard (2003). Southwest Shuffle: Pioneers of Honky-Tonk, Western Swing, and Country Jazz. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-94103-7. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Milner, Jay Dunston (1998). Confessions of a Maddog: A Romp Through the High-Flying Texas Music and Literary Era of the Fifties to the Seventies. University of North Texas Press. ISBN 978-157441050-1. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Nelson, Willie; Shrake,Bud; Shrake, Edwin (2000). Willie: An Autobiography. Cooper Square Press. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Patoski, Joe Nick (2008). Willie Nelson: An Epic Life. Hachette Digital. ISBN 978-0-316-01778-7. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Reid, Jan; Sahm Shawn (2010). Texas Tornado: The Times and Music of Doug Sahm. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-72196-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Scobey, Lola (1982). Willie Nelson: Country Outlaw. Kensington Publishing Corporation. ISBN 978-089083936-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Family_(Willie_Nelson%27s_band)&oldid=842907746"