Badass Willie Nelson Stories 

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I made this compilation to make it easier for people to find all of these stories. These are all clips from interviews I've done over the years. Feel free to share it with your favorite Willie Nelson fan.

This might sound weird but when I was a kid in the 50’s and early 60’s I absolutely loved country music. Especially Ray Price and Patsy Cline. When I learned years later that so many of the songs I loved were written by Willie Nelson I was in awe of that man and still am today. He’s a national treasure . Thanks Otis!

I lived in Austin from 1978-1980. I have my own Willie Nelson story. The short version is that a girl slipped acid in my coffee and before the day was over I ended up being an extra on the set of the movie “Honeysuckle Rose” with Willie, Slim Pickens and Dyan Cannon while I was tripping balls

I saw Willie play at the Del Mar fair in San Diego, the fair has a rule that concerts end at 11:00pm. When the show is supposed to end, Willie says to the crowd, I've got a new album coming out and if you want to hang around, I'd like to bounce these songs off of you and see how you like them. He played until 12:30am and the Del Mar Fair banned him from ever playing there again. What a great show.

To think that Willie turns 90 next week is amazing. What an incredible life. He's seen more than some people have ever seen. Love this Otis .Thank you .

I looked in the dictionary for a definition of Badass and I found this video. Thanks Otis! 🎶🎩

What a treat to have all these stories collected in one place. Thanks Otis. Here's to more kindness.

Man, I can't tell you how much I enjoy your channel, your stories it has taken me all day to listen to the Willie Nelson stories because I am at work but has been thoroughly enjoyed. Rock on my brother !!! I dig what you do.

"It felt like I was watching Louis Armstrong rehearse." What a great quote.

The silence of a falling star lights up a purple sky. When Willie was asked in an interview in 1991 what his favorite lyrics were, that was his reply! Those lyrics are my favorite as well, I feel we are kindred spirits which brings a song-writer comfort. Thanks for all your time arrangeing an entertaining and educational video! Peace,Love, and Happiness Always.

Willie is so down to earth. I met him once, years ago out at Luckenbach. He wasn't playing a show, or anything like that. He just showed up one Saturday evening and the cool thing about Luckenbach is everyone really IS somebody there. If you didn't know it was Willie, he could have been just another old timer hanging out. And yep, I got high with him. I offered first, and he said, "here, try this". Even way back then, he had the. "good stuff". I've met several big musicians and various celebrity types of people over the years and NONE were as chill and just "normal" ad he was.

I've been feeling extremely depressed .. flying low if ya will . Listening to these stories of Willie and life on the road has put a huge smile in my face .. thinking about traveling long live willie

You Know, One of the most important traits about Willie is that he learned a very long time ago to just be yourself. Another great ability that he has is to LISTEN to people. They have so much to say, and there goes another song. He can out talk you and me forever. He's done everything, he's been everywhere and yet he still has the smarts to be quite and listen to what you have to say. Genius! Hell, he still looks at other people playing the guitar to see what he can learn, and he's been playing the guitar every day for 75 years. I heard Willie when I was about 15 years old, and I got hooked by that sound. You could say I'm a Willie Nelson and family freak. I have a good 100 stories, but I'll keep it short. I remember once when Willie was in town, I saw his bur pull into the Holiday Inn on IH 35 in San Antonio. We called the Holiday and asked for him. They called his room and HE AWSERED the phone and talked with us. Just like that! Once, I think it was when he was filming honeysuckle rose, we went to talk to him got on the bus and all. Anyway, when we were leaving, I asked Willie, hey Willie, will you wear my hat on stage when you come out and he replied, let's trade hats. I gave him my Texas Longhorns cap and he gave me some very old farmers cap. When he came on stage, he had my hat on and thru it into the crowd. I was yelling to the fans next to me that that was my cap and the looked at me like I was on crack. After the show, I actually ran into the guy with my cap on. Hey that's my cap and he replied Get the fk away from me you moron. I have a hundred more stories. Willie Nelson is really a down to earth guy. It's not a show. He's just a guy from a tiny little town off of IH 35 north who has worked very very hard at his craft and is absolutely the best at what he does and of course yes, he is undoubtedly the most famous entertainer the world has ever known.

Otis, how thoughtful of you to collect these Willie stories, thank you.

Wow, great series of interviews, Otis. The people sharing are about as interesting as Willie himself.

Willie Nelson, An American Icon!

I got a shiver down my spine when one guy here was talking about Bobbie and Willie being shown the chords to "Great Speckled Bird"

Glad I got to see him. One of last greats of Country royalty.

Otis, I enjoyed this very much! Wonderful stories of a wonderful man. Thank goodness Willie didn’t quit and drive a truck!

Man, I was 8 years old in 1975 in Memphis TN. My parents had get-togethers every weekend listening to outlaw country and the like. I used to sneak into the living room and hide in a corner while the grown ups would drink and get stoned. I used to get ran out all the time. My mother would freak out because I would be stoned just sitting there and there was always one guy, Randy, who would pass me a joint. Man, I lived in such a great time back then! Snagging my dads Penthouses and trying to be one of the grownups! Good day!

An hour and 48 minutes of Willie stories? Well all right. I'm in. Thanks for sharing, Otis!

I was at a Willie Nelson, concert, and when it was over, everyone, in the audience, wanted him to sign ,anything, AND,WILLIE ,MADE AN ANOUNSENTMENT " IF I HAVE TO RENT THIS PLACE FOR 3 DAYS, I'LL SIGN EVERYONE'S

I enjoyed every second of this video, thanks man ❤

Joe Nick Patoski is a guy I could listen to all day.

I was at Tootsies in 2018 . The fighter squadron I was in during the Vietnam war had our 50th anniversary in Nashville. I wanted to go to Tootsies so we did. We were drink cold beers and reminiscing. A couple of people heard us talking along with our waitress and bar keeper. Our tab was paid by Tootsie as appreciation for our service. The waitress told us we were in Willie's booth along with Johnny Cash. I haven't washed those jeans yet. It was a great experience.

One of Willie's first gigs was as a dic jockey in Atascosa County, Tx I think in the late 1950's where my grandparents lived. My grandmother used to say: "I can't stand to look at him with all that hair, but I just love his music." We listened to nothing but Willie, Waylon & Merle on 8 track tapes on all our road trips.

Willie truly is my favorite. Thanks for this great compilation. Saw him two days ago in Mesa, still the man!!! I’m from Poseyville Indiana.😀

Otis, what an Excellent video! I watched from start to finish, hanging on every word, Thank you Otis !

Thanks so much for these stories about Willie and his life and travels. My dad died around eleven years ago at the age of 93. He was ww2 and Korean War vet. I turned him on to Willies music back in the seventies and he always thought he and Willie were kindred spirits I believe. So over the years dad kinda grew to resemble Willie, he really didn’t know anything about him but loved his music. We’ve always been fans, and appreciate his contributions. Thanks again!

In Willie we trust!!!

Great stories Otis, some of them I haven't heard before. Willie is a national treasure that everyone needs to know about. I learned a lot about music by listening to his songs . Take care man.

Uncle Willy is legend, growing up and living in Texas, really has always been part of my household. Will usually buy so many for sure, and for righteous reasons .

Otis, this was awesome. I was going to watch a little, and come back to it. I couldn’t stop. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for that! I saw every one of these prior, but all the editorial work (picky-choosy stuff, the order/timing, individual cuts/transitions, etc .) makes a difference. My specifics don't matter, the interactions and how they add up will be different for everyone, but I'm damn sure that a lot of other viewers saw one thing or another in a new light, too Made me think of Maxwell Perkins, other ink-stained desk jockeys, and a whole host of record producers I tend not to remember often. The selection and timing, and the sheer "fit" of Dale's cameo here, gave it a whole new sparkle. Thanks for the demonstration! Should be handier for people, among many other good things.

Yeah, Red Headed Stranger is such a great record

Thank you Otis, this is a wealth of interviews to be savored over time; it has been placed in folder to be played and replayed. 👍

Otis, this is great. The stories. The history. The music. The characters. Listen close. But watch the faces of these storytellers. They tell their own story. Thank you ❤

Wow, thanks for your work cutting these up...appreciate it Otis!

Wow man, I never knew much about Willie Nelson. My stepdad would play some songs of his, and I saw him on TV a little. I wasn’t into country music at the time. I’ve had some good things happen to me because I chose to do the right thing. That’s what I’m gleaning from this video. Thank you Otis. It’s good to hear that there are still good people in this world!

Each moment that passes Willie becomes more vital to how we understand music...

Hello Otis...Kudos across the board...EXCELLENT!!!...One of the best I've seen you ever put together...Thanks!

I don’t comment a lot, but you talking about Willie Nelson. When I was a kid in the 70s, my dad worked at the family business Acme brick which was right down the street from Bill McDavid Pontiac. Will he was friends with them at Davidson would often be in his truck coming in or out of the dealership where he was talking to her hanging out with the McDavid. So a couple of times on the bike I got to lean into his truck and say hey Willie While I was on my way to visit my dad usually for lunch. These encounters probably lasted no more than seconds. I do believe that’s the first time I smelt marijuana. He was just around this was the 70s. Of course he was already famous but I think it’s famous become much bigger by now. I have friends that have better stories in mine. Fort Worth was an interesting place to grow up in many other stories. But that’s my one Willie Nelson encounter. I’m enjoying hearing the conversation here. Oh I have to subscribe to you now.

Rheta Grimsley Johnson was a reporter and columnist who worked for King Features Syndicate of New York and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for commentary. She is retired.

Thanks for the video. My uncle Jody Pain was Willie Nelson‘s rhythm guitar player until he passed away about 10 years ago. Loved hearing these stories.

That was a nice night spent, thank you Otis, and all the contributors.

Duuude. Such a treasure trove of treasures here.

This is fabulous! Thank you for taking the time to edit this great compilation ✌️

Willie became my musical hero in 1979, when I was 14. The parents took me to three concerts in Watsonville CA in 79-80-81, and all three were like spiritual experiences. After the show in 1980 I got to mingle with Willie and the band backstage at this little amphitheater. I was so in awe just to be in the same room with the man, I couldn't speak.

Waylon’s brother James was giving me a drive around their hometown Littlefield Texas. He told about the time Waylon’s son Terry was working for him as his manager. They were in town for the free concert Waylon did every year and Willie drove up in a rental car. He stepped aboard Waylon’s bus, and must’ve assumed Terry was a roadie, because he threw him his car keys and said “go park my car boy.” Terry said nothing and left. Later after the show, Willie found him and asked where his car was, and Terry said “I parked it somewhere in Lubbock. You go find it boy.” James laughed telling me how mad Waylon was about it. 😂😂

This channel is an archive of historical treasure.

In the mid 70’s when I was about 8 years old I had front row center seats to one of his shows. I had a custom made t shirt that said I ❤ Willie. I had braids and a red bandana and red cowboy boots. I tossed him my bandana and he played with it on the end of trigger and threw it back to me and smiled. Some very large horrible woman snatched it out of the air and wouldn’t let me have it. He was mid song and glared at her and strummed trigger extra hard in displeasure while the crowd at the front booed her. Later he gave me an autograph when he saw me and he had already turned down many. Funny thing was he was so drunk from passing a whisky jug back and forth with fans in the front row that his signature looked more like it said Waylon than it did Willie. But I will never forget that moment we had. I will be absolutely gutted when he heads off yonder.

Loved Willie the first time i heard him singing his first major release (Touch Me)

I really enjoyed this, thanks, couldn't sleep.

I listen to a lot of music history stories... genre not that important...from the oldest of blues to the punk/metal of the early 80s...I also am a lover of the art of story telling....that said between Otis's natural ease of delivery and just about every single guest being great story tellers themselves ...what a cool place this for legit Americana this channel is....and def the most consistent w great stories of musicians......

Thank you Mr. Gibbs for putting these videos together. I can't quit watching them. Good stuff! You've also got some great music of your own. Wishing you much success in all you do! Thank you!

Fantastic job Otis

Summer of 1973 a long haired acquaintance from work and I went out for a beer after work. We were talking and the conversation got around to what kind of music we listened to. He loved country music I was into rock and roll so he asked me if I had heard The Byrds album Sweetheart of the Rodeo and Meryl Haggard. I didn’t really know either one so he invited me to his house to listen to some music. He played The Byrds album for me and an album by Meryl and I loved both albums . That was my reintroduction to country. Before that I’d listened to country when I was riding around with my dad in his truck. I prefer older country but I have some current artists who I really like. Right now I’m into Marty Stuart and The Fabulous Superlatives big time .

Awesome stories! I just found your channel, thank you.

Carol to Carroll Mandella Efects!😂❤ Best road music ever Willie!😂❤

WOW, what great Willie stories. Thank you so much Otis

What a great interview.... love this... ❤❤❤

Would you consider doing something on Warren Zevon? His music has deep roots in country, folk and “Americana.”He was covered by country artists like Dwight Yoakham and Terri Clark, and was championed by his peers and collaborators, such as Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen. His wife’s book, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead: the dirty life & times of Warren zevon”is an incredible read for any fan of the singer-songwriter art form. Other Warren zevon books are not as profound. Thank you for this, and for the hours upon hours of insightful entertainment.

willie nelson makes the world a better place...i commented them on a post abotu him and its gotten approaching a thousand likes deservedlly....and otis gibbs makes the world a better place!

Great story's brother, luv ya man.

Thank you, Tim Carroll. ✌🙏

Most excellent, Otis. Most excellent.

Worked at an old-school pawn shop. Customer told me his Willie story: his wife wanted to get an autograph so they go knock on the bus door after a gig. They got pulled on the bus, met Willie, got blasted on joints for the first time ever, just had a grand old time. Bus has to go and it’s time to leave. They leave the bus and make it to their car as the bus pulls away and his wife realizes they forgot to ask for an autograph.

Good job Otis. I lived in Austin for many of those years. Had an old friend who was one of the DJ's at KOKE back in the day. This video hit the right notes regarding Willie.

Dang Otis! How do you do it? You have the best videos on the Internet!

THANX 4 THIS COMPILATION

I loved the stories my Grandfather would tell of Willie. Way back in the late 50’s or so, Willie was a disc jockey and musician in the local beer joints and ice houses in Pasadena Tx. My Grandfather would tell of smoking dope with Willie even back then. Kinda funny hearing that from your Grandfather.

Hello there, I’ve been so pleased to get to know such a great stories about Willie. I’ve been living in Austin now for 7 and a half years. From now on I rather say , I live in Willie Austin Tejas !! Thanks so much much for this wonderful stories. ❤️🎼✌️☮️🤟

Thank you Otis! I love your channel!

Love the compalation videos. Ask about farm aid 1986 at Manerd Downs outside of Austin. Willie started the show then flew to NYC to sing at unveiling the refurbished statue of liberty then came back to farm aide Jesse Jackson was speaking late that night crowd was getting unruly listening to him and Willie broke out in Whisky River. That calmed the crowd then he introduced SRV everything went back to normal.

Otis, you pulled me out of the blues this morning. What a great story you've told. Thank you so much.

Watched all of ‘em again Otis; thanks for this (again).

Thank you for bringing these stories to us. I appreciate you so much.

Thanks Again Otis

This is Awesome! You Rock Otis! 🤘👽👽👽🎸

Oh I need this today after yesterday. Mr.Gibbs,Otis I appreciate you on many levels. ✌🏻

Thank you Otis love the stories❤️😎

I met Willie Nelson, his sister Bobby, Paul and the band in Charlotte in 1974. I worked with someone whose wife went to school with Willie in Abbott, Texas. We went to a hotel across Independence Boulevard from the Charlotte Coliseum and asked the hotel clerk to ask Willie if we could come to his room. We went to his room and his band members were in a back room smoking. Later he took us to another room to meet his sister Bobby. He was such a nice guy and after the concert he had us come to the stage and hang out.

Thank you, Joe Nick Patoski. ✌🙏

OTIS, God bless our hero's in music artist myself at 67 , I find they are starting to fade into the next world leaving part of THEIR souls on record for us in this one to remember and give us love in our hearts when times get hard for us.......bless you OTIS for the memories ....... I find myself going back to my records and playing them and loving that there are a few new AMERICANA artist carrying the torch of old to the new generation.

Thanks loads Otis.

Listened to the whole thing today. Great stuff.

This a great channel. Well done Otis.

Mr Gibbs, I have watched your videos religiously since I found you and always enjoy them but this one is amazing and could have gone on another few hours and I wouldn’t have noticed … also: I was lucky enough to hang out with Hank Cochran during the Flora Bama song writes festival around 1988 at the owners house next door. He brought up Guy Clark and I told him I had been a huge fan of his since the mid 70’s , he then pulled out a homemade cassette that Guy had made and given to him and told me the classic story behind it as he handed it to me and said I hope you enjoy it and he was sure Guy wouldn’t mind. I no longer have it (shit happens) but I have the memory and I am still a huge Guy Clark fan. Thank You for what you’re doing and please don’t stop …… mm

Obrigado. Thx you brother Otis.

Thanks for putting this up. Love you, Otis

Fantastic, really enjoyed it

Thanks, Otis!

I worked at Glastonbury festival for a few uears and met a lot of famous musicians, some I knew from before but a couple of guys I met who were very well known but had an anonymous face they could sort of wear. David Byrne(talikng heads) was one of those guys, I sat with him having a drink and people stopped to say hello to me but ignored him, he thought that was cool. He said, man, you're real well known around here!

Great Video. Thankyou.

Great stories Otis

Jim Morrison owneed my soul for about a decade....I was born 10-9-1971...................3 months after he passed...........

Willie loves Maui. Back in the 90s, my mother would spend time at my grandmother's place in Lower Paia. Next door is a bar called Charley P. Woofer's Bar & Grill, named after the owner's dog - I think it's still there and it's just called Charley's. Anyway, all these folks converged on this sleepy seaside town and my mother was taking out the trash or cleaning the driveway. A bunch of hippies pull up and ask if they can park in the yard. My mom tells them no but asks them what's going on. "Don't you know? Willie Nelson is playing at Charley P. Woofer's." Not knowing who Willie was, she asked me later when she got back to Oahu. I've heard that Willie played there so many times, he bought Charley's. Maybe someone can confirm.

I absolutely love this btw! But you’re more than welcome In Texas anytime my friend as I’m sure you know.

Fantastic......❤