“Willie Nelson: An Epic Life” by Joe Nick Patoski

 

 “Willie Nelson: An Epic Life” by Joe Nick Patoski

 Willie, a country artist, just reeks of rock and roll and, well, marijuana if we’re being honest. Willie certainly has a rock and roll attitude and has lived a rock and roll life.

 “Willie Nelson: An Epic Life” got off to a slow, boring start. I don’t care who you are, I don’t need to read a biography that explains not only your origins but the origins of your family in the United States. Did we really need to learn about Uncle Peck?? I’m sure he was a swell guy but Uncle Peck does not belong. Oh, I forgot good old Prilly!!

I really wanted to like this book. I was hoping that its size would mean a depth comparable with that of a couple of Rolling Stones autobiographies. In the end, I thought the depth was much more filler than anything substantial about the man. Filler. It was annoying to find so much fluff and filler. 

Well, no that’s not entirely fair. There is a good examination of how Willie’s tax battles with the IRS. Willie nearly lost it all but in the end, Willie paid off his debt and turned his entire financial situation. The story is interesting and puts everything in a new light. 

If you were curious about Willie Nelson’s tax issues it’s in here but it would be in every Willie biography written after 1995. Was he a tax cheat or was he framed by the IRS? I know what I think.

Then there is the weed. I think Willie has become as synonymous with weed as Cheech and Chong or Snoop Doog are. Willie has had several “high” profile busts for weed. 

Anything Willie does is a “high” profile and Willie promoting weed has been good for both weed and Willie.

You’ll learn of his band “The No Blow Blues Band”. No cocaine was allowed by anyone on the tour. Apparently, it messed people up too badly to perform. There was an upside for his fellow musician - was they could smoke all the marijuana they wanted. 

 Willie Nelson is one of the most important people in the history of pop music. PERIOD! Not only has Willie been influential within the country music bubble but the effect was so great in country music that it spills over to both rock and pop. 

It’s surprising that it took as long as it did for Willie to finally have a hit album of his own. The man wrote hit after hit but they were all for other folks. 

1961 was a huge year for Willie but all the hits he had were recorded by others . . .  Patsy Cline did “Crazy” and Faron Young released “Hello Walls”.

When the musical history of the 20th century is written Willie Nelson will be at the top of a short stack of both popular and influential musicians.  

This is a grand biography of Willie Nelson. Make sure you have it in your rock and roll book collection. So get this one.