Posted on 04/21/2012 8:38:15 AM PDT by smokingfrog
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -April 21, 2012 (WPVI) -- Country music legend Willie Nelson helped unveil a statue honoring him in downtown Austin by singing his new song "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die" on Friday, a date long reserved to celebrate marijuana use.
The faint smell of marijuana smoke wafted through a crowd of about 2,000 people as Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell accepted on the privately funded statue as a gift from a private arts group. Organizers said they didn't intentionally choose April 20 for the event, but once they found out, they scheduled the unveiling at 4:20 p.m. as a tongue-in-cheek reference to Nelson's openness about his marijuana use and advocacy for its legalization.
The statute stands in front of the Moody Theater, where the Austin City Limits Studio is now located. Nelson, a 10-time Grammy Award winner who has sold more than 40 million copies of his 150 albums, appeared on the first episode of the public television show in 1974.
"He is the man who more than other made Austin the live music capital of the world," Leffingwell said.
Nelson was born in Abbott, a tiny town about 120 miles north of Austin, but he has lived in Texas' capital city since 1971.
(Excerpt) Read more at abclocal.go.com ...
“I was mesmerized and since then I have tried to collect every song he ever recorded.”
Well, I’ve never particularly sought out Willie Nelson but I have come to recognize he is a talent.
Recently came across this by him, it’s lovely. Wondered if you’ve heard it.
I wonder why 4/20 is reserved to celebrate marijuana use?.
Isn’t that Hitlers birthday?.
So true, but it is easy to be blunt about Willie...
Perhaps a prank on dazed potheads?
The Austin Silly Council is also going to erect a statue for Leslie Cochran who passed away earlier this year.
Nelson has also been known to keep playing as long as there is someone in the audience. If there is one person left, he and his band will keep on playing. I don't know if he still does. I'm usually too tired to last longer than 11 pm, but he still had a lot of energy at his age.
Marijuana poisons a persons thought process like alcohol poisons the liver. After a lifetime of smoking pot they realize they have wasted their time on earth in a THC mental haze.
“City of New Orleans” was not written by Willie Nelson. It was written by Chicago’s own Steve Goodman.
Was that a marijuana joke
Not a fan of his, but I always liked “You Were Always on my Mind”.
Yes. 20 April 1889.
How charming.
Coùld be.
Is’nt it illegal to mention Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain without posting a video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7vaYOIKWYY
I heard a parody of that song that was pretty funny: "Blue Hair Driving in My Lane."
Personally I love the way he does that, but then again am not entirely familiar with his stuff as you are.
If that is when he is not in good voice I’m really impressed because I think it very soulful and beautiful. He has an honesty in his voice that makes a song sound genuine.
I identify with the high mileage, worn out old geezers for some reason . . .
As for Emmylou Harris, what did she ever do that did not shine! Easy on the eyes too. *sigh* Youth is so fleeting.
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