Country singer Willie Nelson held a virtual concert for the benefit of the farmers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic alongside with his sons Micah and Lukas, according to articles from USA Today and Tennessean.
Nelson was the president and co-founder of Farm Aid, an organization that helps farmers in the United States. They have been staging annual concerts to raise money and awareness since 1985. This year, the performances were staged not on a usual concert venue, but at the homes of the performers due to quarantine measures.
The concert, titled "At Home With Farm Aid" was joined by other organization members including Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews with his sons.
Farm Aid plans to create emergency grants, advocate for recovery funds and connect farmers to legal, monetary and mental health resources in response to the current pandemic.
Nelson, 86, said that the virus "disrupted the country" and it is a great threat to all. Many of people who died in the virus were around his age.
"One of its many impacts is that it has helped us to better see the value of essential people like health care workers, grocery store clerks, delivery truck drivers, and farmers and ranchers," Willie Nelson pointed out. "Farm Aid has worked for 35 years to build a family farm centered agricultural system, and we are here now to support farmers and ranchers in this crisis, without whom we could not eat," he added.
About Nelson
According to Biography, Willie Hugh Nelson was born on April 29, 1933 in Abbott, Texas. He is the son of Myrle and Ira Nelson and was raised by his paternal grandparents during the Great Depression. He was first exposed to music when he attended a small Methodist Church and got his first guitar when he was six. He also composed a gospel song "Family Bible" and sold to his friend for $50 in 1959.
After his graduation from high school in 1950, he was enlisted in the United States Air Force and stationed at Lackland in San Antonio. His military service ended abruptly due to back problems from his injuries.
After his stint at USAF, he enrolled at a farming program at Baylor University and took odd jobs while pursuing his studies. As his passion for music did not fade, he worked at many radio stations.
Career
Nelson's early works, aside from "Family Bible," were "Night Life," "Crazy," and "Funny How Time Slips Away." He got a job as a songwriter for Pamper Music in Nashville, TN in 1962. His work "Hello Walls
became a hit when it hit top at the charts and sold two million copies. "Crazy" became top 10 in country and pop categories, while "Night Life" was at top 40.
He also produced several albums including "Shotgun Willie" in 1973, and "Red-Headed Stranger" in 1975, which made him famous as the album reached the top spot and included in top 40. Following his stardom, he countinued to release albums such as "Wanted! The Outlaws" in 1976, which gained critical and commercial success. He made 69 albums in total and is set to release a new one.
Nelson has won 13 Grammy, 10 CMA Awards, and 7 American Music Awards.
