2023
Dave Matthews
Willie Nelson is a unique American cultural icon, a celebrated performer, activist and innovator unbound by the fences of categorization. After six decades as an artist, his synthesis of traditional country, jazz, blues, rock and folk continues to win hearts. As both songwriter and interpreter, he has significantly elevated the form. Beyond the stage, his commitments to veterans, family farms and cannabis culture continue, as do his timeless songs.
Induction
Impact
Signature Sound
Willie Nelson’s late ‘50s country songs stood out, with lyrical wit, innovative, jazzy chords and bluesy phrasing. After a ‘60s Nashville stint, the Texan settled in counterculture ‘70s Austin, where he continued pushing sonic and thematic boundaries, recording concept albums, duetting with artists from different genres, and changing the game.
A struggling Nelson sold this song for $150, but later regained control of it. Ray Price, Doris Day, and numerous others had hits with it.
From the Museum
Red Bandana-edStranger
A bandana is a practical accessory for the Red-Headed Stranger, and at show’s end Willie often tosses one into the audience. Folded as a headband, he wore this one onstage,
along with this black T-shirt promoting his own line of cannabis products. He uses a woven, red-white-and-blue scarf-like strap to hold his guitar “Trigger,” like this one made for him by a fan.
From the Museum
Red Bandana-edStranger
A bandana is a practical accessory for the Red-Headed Stranger, and at show’s end Willie often tosses one into the audience. Folded as a headband, he wore this one onstage,
along with this black T-shirt promoting his own line of cannabis products. He uses a woven, red-white-and-blue scarf-like strap to hold his guitar “Trigger,” like this one made for him by a fan.
Willie Nelson is a profound, original songwriter in a class with Stephen Foster who continues to enrich our lives with classics.
Kris Kristofferson
2024 Hall of Fame Essay
"Willie Nelson is the kind of cowboy who gallops across the open range of every genre – country, blues, jazz, gospel, rock, pop, and beyond."
– Scott B. Bomar
Paper Artifacts
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Influence
Hoagy Carmichael
Frank Sinatra
Ernest Tubb
Django Reinhardt
Lefty Frizzell
Cole Porter
Willie Nelson
Waylon Jennings
Kris Kristofferson
Snoop Dogg
Alison Krauss
Dwight Yoakam
Norah Jones
Steve Earle
sealed with a signature
This is the signature that appears on the inductee’s plaque at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to officially commemorate their induction.
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