On this day (April 29) in 1933, Willie Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas. Ninety-three years later, he is one of the most celebrated songwriters in the world. Today, he can look back on six decades of country music and see how his music impacted the genre’s evolution. The combination of his deep discography, philanthropy, acting career, and advocacy has made him one of the best-known figures in country music and one of its greatest ambassadors.
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Nelson moved to Nashville in 1960 with a handful of songs in his pocket. He landed a publishing deal with Pamper Music and started playing bass in Ray Price’s band. Two years later, he released his debut album, …And Then I Wrote. It helped him sign with RCA Victor. Despite inking a deal with a major label, he didn’t find chart success for more than a decade. However, his songs quickly became hits for other artists…