Now this sounds like quite a bill. Van Morrison and Willie Nelson and the Family are teaming up for a co-headlining show this fall.
The two iconic artists have announced a one-off show at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York on September 12th.
Tickets for the show go on sale Saturday at 10 am. Click here for more info.
Source: Jambands.com
March 16 in Country Music History
1931: Shirley Collie Nelson, country music and rockabilly singer, is born in Chillicothe, Missouri. Nelson was also known for her work as a yodeler, guitarist and songwriter. She was also the second wife of country superstar Willie Nelson. Shirley Collie Nelson died January 27, 2010 at the age of 78, due to illness.
1942: Country music singer/songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker is born in Oneonta, New York. He was most famous for his hit, “Mr. Bojangles”.
1951: Hank Williams records “I Can’t Help it If I’m Still in Love with You” and “Hey, Good Lookin’” while at Castle Studio in Nashville. Also on this day, Ray Benson is born. Benson was the front man of the group Asleep at the Wheel.
March 15 in Country Music History
1927: Carl “Mister Country” Smith is born in Maynardville. Smith was the husband of June Carter (later June Carter Cash) and the father of Carlene Carter.
1970: Merle Haggard is #1 on the Country Chart with “The Fightin’ Side of Me.”
1982: Alabama are at #1 on the Country Album Chart with Mountain Music, their award-winning third studio album.
2008: Randy Travis surprises Carrie Underwood on stage of the Grand Ole Opry with an invitation to become the newest member.
2011: Lady Antebellum sit at #1 on the Country Chart with Need You Now, their second studio album.
March 13th in Country Music History
1930: Country music singer and Grand Ole Opry star Jan Howard is born in West Plains, Missouri.
1963: Singer/songwriter Billy Yates is born in Doniphan, Missouri.
1980: Willie Nelson sits at #1 on the Country Chart with “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys,” the title of a song from the soundtrack for The Electric Horseman.
1987: George Strait dominates at #1 on the Country Chart with Ocean Front Property, his seventh studio album and Strait’s first to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart.
2005: Rascal Flatts takes #1 on the US Country Music Album Chart with Feels Like Today.
2012: Lady Antebellum are at #1 on the US County Chart with Own the Night, which won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album at the 54th Grammy Awards.
2015: A Woodstock woman takes out legal action suing Willie Nelson, claiming that the lyrics of a song on his Heroes album were “substantially and strikingly similar” to one written by her and her partner. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Atlanta by Ashley Wilson and the estate of Mark Reynolds contended Nelson’s 2012 song, “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” was written by Wilson and Reynolds in 1990.
1972: Country musician Steve Holy is born in Dallas, Texas. Holy went on to score 15 singles on the Billboard Hot Country charts.
1983: Willie Nelson wins Best Country Vocal Performance for “Always on My Mind” at the 25th Annual Grammy Awards. Best Female Country Vocal Performance goes to Juice Newton for “Break It to Me Gently.”
2000: The Dixie Chicks and country music powerhouse Shania Twain both take home awards during the 42nd annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles’ Staples Center.
2010: American singer/TV host/actor/businessman Jimmy Dean is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Dean rocketed to fame for his 1961 country crossover hit “Big Bad John” and his television series, The Jimmy Dean Show.
2014: American country and gospel music singer/actress Penny DeHaven dies at the age of 65.
Willie Nelson may be taking some time off to recover from the flu, but he’s already looking ahead to future shows. The singer will once again throw his Luck Reunion during next month’s South by Southwest, and Willie and his Family Band are headlining.
The concert, which takes place in the backyard of Willie’s Luck Ranch, just outside of Austin, is set for March 15, 2018 and will feature more than 40 acts, including Willie’s son’s band, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, along with Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Devon Gilfillian, Nikki Lane, Josh Ritter and more.
Source: Rolling Stone
1946: The Bellamy Brothers singer/songwriter Howard Bellamy is born in Darby, Florida.
1960: Loretta Lynn signs her first contract with Zero Records.
1974: “Jolene” scores Dolly Parton her second #1 country hit single. Parton says that the inspiration for the story was a tall, red-headed bank teller whom Parton believed was flirting with her husband, and her husband’s apparent vulnerability to the teller’s charm.
1986: Country music artist Blaine Larsen is born in Tacoma, Washington.
1992: “A Jukebox with a Country Song” by Doug Stone sits at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart. This was Stone’s second chart-topper.
1993: Willie Nelson (pictured) agrees to pay $9 million of the $16.7 million he owes the IRS.
2007: Country musician Terry McMillan, who played harmonica and percussion, dies at the age of 53. He worked with powerhouse artists such as Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Kenny Chesney, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Trisha Yearwood, and the Dixie Chicks.
Toby Keith has recruited his longtime friend Willie Nelson to appear in the video for his new song, “Wacky Tobaccy.” The comedic tune and video will be released on Friday (6/23), adding yet another “weed anthem” to Keith’s catalog of songs. In 2003, Toby released the song “Weed With Willie,” which he wrote with frequent collaborator Scotty Emerick about what happens on Nelson’s tour bus.
The list of Special Award winners at the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards has been announced and includes George Strait, Dolly Parton, Kelsea Ballerini, Reba, Eric Church, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson and more. Honorees will be celebrated during the 11th annual ACM Honors ceremony, which will be held at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on August 23. The event will then be broadcast at a later date on CBS.
As George Strait celebrates his 65th birthday today (5/18), the Texas State Legislature will officially appoint him as Texas State Musician for 2017. Selections for the prestigious honor are made every two years, with the general public nominating the candidates and the Texas Commission on the Arts selecting the recipients. Artists who’ve been bestowed this honor in the past include Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.
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