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Texas native Willie Nelson grew up in a world permeated with music: the gospel songs of his grandparents, the blues and Mexican corridas that eased the labor of the cotton fields, the country and western swing hits filling the airwaves from Nashville and Fort Worth and the inner music that filled his head. Melodies are easy, he says of songwriting. If he needs one, he just plucks one out of the air. The air, he says, is full of music.
The air around the L.A. County Fair will be filled with the legendary sounds of Willie Nelson on Sunday, Sept. 26, when the five-time Grammy winner closes the End of Summer Concert Series on the Los Angeles Newspaper Group Grandstand Stage. The Fair is thrilled to have the American music icon back for a second year. His performance in 2003 sold out.
When the 71-year-old Nelson comes to Pomona he will be fresh from a tour with Bob Dylan. In his long career, Nelson has recorded country music, standards, gospel and much more. With the release in 2000 of Milk Cow Blues, his first blues release, Nelson leaves his mark on yet another chunk of the American musical landscape.
Nelson is one of those rare artists who have come to be defined by their sheer indefinableness. He has made a career out of defying expectation – rebellious outlaw fighting Nashville’s staid production-line sensibilities; award-winning country legend; crooning pop mega-star; working man; country boy; movie star; and golf enthusiast.
Since releasing his first single in 1957, he has given birth to concept albums, gospel and jazz albums, movie soundtracks, myriad duet projects, Christmas and live albums and a recording of standards (1978’s Stardust), which as become a standard in itself.
His around-the-beat blues-flavored vocals set the Nashville musical establishment on its ear. His early ‘70s merger of traditional country and longhaired hippie audiences was questioned at the time, and has since come to be regarded as visionary.
Outside the recording studio, Nelson established himself as a champion for the family farmer with his annual Farm Aid concerts. His Fourth of July picnics have for the past quarter-century served as a rite of musical passage in Texas. His films include “The Electric Horseman,” “Songwriter,” “Wag the Dog” and many others.
Nelson divides his time between the road, his beloved Pedernales recording studio/golf course in the hill country outside Austin, Texas and a home in Hawaii.
The L.A. County Fair hosts 11 nights of entertainment with its End of Summer Concert Series. All shows are at 8 p.m. General admission to the concerts is free with Fair admission. Reserved tickets may be purchased for $19.50 through Ticketmaster locations, in person at the Fairplex box office, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, and on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or www.lacountyfair.com. Stageside seating is $50.
For more concert information, visit the Web site or call (909) 623-3111. rc=http://
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