Willie Nelson before he was famous

The nobody years

1. 

   1940 Cotton fields, Abbott

   As a child he picked cotton in the fields around Abbott, Texas.

   Picked cotton in the fields around Abbott as a child. Source

2. 

   1950 Discharged in a year

   He joined the Air Force in 1950, discharged within a year over back problems.

   Joined the US Air Force, and was discharged within a year over back problems. Source

3. 

   1955 Door to door

   By 1955 he was knocking on doors, selling Bibles to pay rent.

   Sold encyclopedias, vacuum cleaners and Bibles door to door to pay the rent. Source

4. 

   1960 Fifty dollars

   In 1960 he sold the song Family Bible outright for fifty dollars.

   Sold the song Family Bible outright for fifty dollars. Source

5. 

   1960 Nashville, 1960

   He sold Night Life for a hundred and fifty, then moved to Nashville.

   Sold Night Life for a hundred and fifty, and moved to Nashville. Source

6. 1933

   Was born in Abbott, Texas, and raised by his grandparents during the Depression. Source

7. 1942

   Wrote his first song at seven and played in a local polka band at nine. Source

8. 1956

   Worked as a radio disc jockey in Texas, then in Oregon. Source

9. 1961

   Played bass in Ray Price's touring band, an instrument he barely knew. Source

Reconstructions of documented moments, generated with AI. Not archive photographs, and not depictions of real people. © The Nobody Years