Willie Nelson was welcomed back to San Antonio Sunday, January 15, 2012 with some of the most adoring fans anywhere, including former Governor for Texas candidate Kinky Friedman and Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson.
“There must be some satisfaction in knowing how far he’s come since he used to live here,” said Raymond Albright, who was able to wrangle some 18th row tickets. “There was a time when he didn’t even have gas money to make it to work as a deejay in Pleasanton and he would have to hitch a ride.”
Willie and the band played a good 90 minute solid set.
<<<<<<<<<<<SEE WILLIE SLIDESHOW<<<<<<<<<
“It was a good show,” said Florence Conley, who drove in from the Corpus Christi area with family for the performance. “At 78-years-old he sounds just as good as he did 20 years ago, and I swear I could close my eyes to the slower songs and think it was the recording.”
Benson, who played guitar on the Majestic Theater stage, credits Willie Nelson, along with Bob Wills, Count Basie, Moon Mullican, and Hank Williams as being among the greatest influences of his music career.
Benson also says if he could read anyone’s mind in the world, it would be that of Kinky Friedman.
I GOT AN AUTOGRAPH!
The Kinkster was on hand to visit with Willie on the tour bus prior to the show and took a little time to say hi to fans, and a couple of police officers, in the back of the Majestic during the performance.
“I got an autograph!” Gina Gray, originally from Mexico City yelled to her friend Kathy Brackeen, of Boerne.
The two had walked up to the three tour buses lined up in the back of the building just in time to see Willie step out and enter the Majestic.
Lukas Nelson, who played a strong set prior to his father coming on stage, also went to shake hands with some fans.
No stranger to touring, Lukas has been on the road often most of his life.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE FAMILY AROUND YOU
“I’ve learned it’s important to have family around you,” Lukas commented. “It keeps you grounded when you are out here (touring).”
Benson and the senior Nelson worked on album, “Willie and the Wheel,” which was released in January 2009.
Famed producer Jerry Wexler had the original idea in the 1970s for this particular album, but Nelson left Atlanta Records and they were not able to do it.
Decades later Wexler offered Benson his collection of western swing vinyl that included notes on song choices and treatments for the album.
After Willie recorded the vocals, Wexler was overjoyed and able to hear his vision come true before he died in August 2008.
GLAD HE HEARD IT BEFORE HE PASSED ON
“Jerry wanted us to do this album and I'm glad we got to do it for him “ Nelson grinned. “And that he heard it before he passed on."
Willie has been bringing his family band to the San Antonio area for over 50 years.
Many of the fans remembered that his long time bass player, Dan “Bee” Spears, who died last month in Nashville was originally from San Antonio.
Benson, the front man and founder of the Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel said he has been very busy and was happy to play along with “Willie and the boys tonight.”
He brought a guitar along that Willie was happy to sign. Benson was named Texan of the Year, 2011 recently.
ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO TWO TERMS
And Kinky, what has he been up to since running for Texas governor a few years back?
“I’m smoking my guitar and contemplating talking to that pretty girl,” he deadpanned. “I’m calling on all elected officials to be limited to two terms now”.
“One term in office,” he pauses to exhale the guitar smoke. “…..and one in prison.”
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