Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson began his music career as a DJ in the 50’s. In the 60s he moved on to playing bass for Ray Price’s band in Nashville. By the 1970s Nelson had moved back to Texas and become associated, along with Waylon Jennings, with a genre of country called ‘outlaw music’. His album Red Headed Stranger (1975) marked the beginning of his fame in country music as a whole. His future albums featured crossover with other genres, however, such as rock, jazz, and even latin pop. By the time of Farm Aid, Willie Nelson was a household name for country fans across America.

This Texan country music star is the original visionary of Farm Aid. After hearing Bob Dylan’s comment "Wouldn’t it be great if we did something for our own farmers right here in America?", Nelson was inspired to create a Live Aid- style concert dedicated to struggling American farmers amidst the farm crisis of the 1980s.

“The fate of the small farmer was a topic I couldn’t ignore. More I read, more motivated I became to help publicize their plight.”

He worked with John Cougar Mellencamp and Neil Young to organize the concert. Nelson also connected with Illinois Governor Jim Thompson, securing Champaign as the home of the first Farm Aid. Nelson has continued to be deeply involved in the concert and its mission with pride.

“In this postmodern world of corporate greed and government indifference, the family farm continues to struggle. But the struggle is a noble one.”