{"product_id":"its-a-long-story-my-life-willie-nelson-9780316403542","title":"It's a Long Story | Willie Nelson","description":"\u003ch2\u003eIt's a Long Story: My Life | Willie Nelson\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith David Ritz\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003eHow did a small-town Texas songwriter evolve into an enduring American musical icon? \u003cstrong\u003eWillie Nelson\u003c\/strong\u003e presents his life tale in \u003cem\u003eIt's a Long Story\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Book:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWillie Nelson shares his life story in this \"heartfelt\" bestselling memoir of true love, wild times, best friends, and barrooms (Washington Post).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnvarnished. Funny. Leaving no stone unturned... So say the publishers about this book I've written. What I say is that this is the story of my life, told as clear as a Texas sky and in the same rhythm that I lived it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's a story of \u003cstrong\u003erestlessness and the purity\u003c\/strong\u003e of the moment and living right. Of my childhood in Abbott, Texas, to the Pacific Northwest, from Nashville to Hawaii and all the way back again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf \u003cstrong\u003eselling vacuum cleaners and encyclopedias\u003c\/strong\u003e while hosting radio shows and writing song after song, hoping to strike gold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's a story of true love, wild times, best friends, and barrooms, with a musical soundtrack ripping right through it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy life gets lived on the road, at home, and on the road again, tried and true, and I've written it all down from my heart to yours. Signed, Willie Nelson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWillie Nelson: \u003c\/strong\u003eAmerican Singer and Guitarist\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWillie Hugh Nelson\u003c\/strong\u003e was born on April 30, 1933 in Abbott, Texas. He is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The success of the album \u003cstrong\u003eShotgun Willie\u003c\/strong\u003e, combined with the critical and commercial success of \u003cstrong\u003eRed Headed Stranger\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eStardust\u003c\/strong\u003e, made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNelson was born during the Great Depression, and raised by his grandparents. He wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at ten. In 1960, he signed a publishing contract with Pamper Music which allowed him to join Ray Price's band as a bassist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring that time, he wrote songs that would become country standards, including \u003cstrong\u003eFunny How Time Slips Away\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eHello Walls\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003ePretty Paper\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eCrazy\u003c\/strong\u003e. In 1962, he recorded his first album, \u003cem\u003eAnd Then I Wrote\u003c\/em\u003e. Due to this success, Nelson signed in 1964 with RCA Victor and joined the Grand Ole Opry the following year. In 1973, after signing with Atlantic Records, Nelson turned to \u003cstrong\u003eoutlaw country\u003c\/strong\u003e, including albums such as \u003cem\u003eShotgun Willie\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ePhases and Stages\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1975, he switched to Columbia Records, where he recorded the critically acclaimed album, \u003cem\u003eRed Headed Stranger\u003c\/em\u003e. The same year, he recorded another outlaw country album, \u003cem\u003eWanted! The Outlaws\u003c\/em\u003e, along with Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser. During the mid 1980s, while creating hit albums like \u003cem\u003eHoneysuckle Rose\u003c\/em\u003e and recording hit songs like \u003cstrong\u003eOn the Road Again\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eTo All the Girls I've Loved Before\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003ePancho \u0026amp; Lefty\u003c\/strong\u003e, he joined the country supergroup The Highwaymen, along with fellow singer Johnny Cash.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana. His book title, \u003cem\u003eRoll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road\u003c\/em\u003e made The New York Times Best Seller List for 2012.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2015 he made the list again with his autobiography: \u003cem\u003eIt's a Long Story: My Life\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions About \u003cem\u003eIt's a Long Story\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e Is this book a deep dive into Willie Nelson's music or a broader personal memoir?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA: \u003c\/strong\u003eIt balances both completely. While it functions as a definitive autobiography tracing the behind-the-scenes creation of historic country hits, it focuses just as heavily on his raw personal life, early poverty, broken marriages, tax battles, and lifelong spiritual philosophies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQ: \u003c\/strong\u003eWhat is the overall writing style and narrative tone of the text?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA: \u003c\/strong\u003eTrue to his public persona, the prose matches his signature conversational, poetic, and relaxed Texas cadence. Co-authored with award-winning biographer David Ritz, the storytelling feels like an unvarnished, humorous personal conversation over a kitchen table rather than a dry timeline of historical music events.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQ: \u003c\/strong\u003eDoes the narrative touch upon his high-profile activism and business ventures?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA: \u003c\/strong\u003eYes. The autobiography outlines his decades-long efforts outside of the music studio. It shares firsthand perspectives on his advocacy for the legalization of cannabis, his personal philosophy regarding clean energy, and his foundational work building and maintaining Farm Aid to preserve family farms across America.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQ: \u003c\/strong\u003eHow deeply does Willie Nelson address his historic financial crises and IRS battles?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA: \u003c\/strong\u003eHe addresses it with absolute transparency and zero reservation. The book documents his legendary 1990 multi-million-dollar tax dispute with the IRS, the seizure of his personal assets, and the clever release of his double album The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories? to pay off his massive debt.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e Are there collaborative stories featuring other major icons of music history?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA: \u003c\/strong\u003eYes. Fans will find detailed, personal accounts tracking his partnerships, late-night bus rides, and close personal bonds with industry legends like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, and Bob Dylan.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBibliographic Data:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFull Title: \u003c\/strong\u003eIt's a Long Story: My Life\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor(s): \u003c\/strong\u003eWillie Nelson (with David Ritz)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher \u0026amp; Imprint: \u003c\/strong\u003eBack Bay Books (An imprint of Little, Brown and Company)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/strong\u003eMay 17, 2016 (Original hardcover registration published May 2015)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBook Binding: \u003c\/strong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003ePre-Owned \/ Very Good\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEdition: \u003c\/strong\u003eReprint Edition \/ Trade Paperback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 416\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage: \u003c\/strong\u003eEnglish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/strong\u003e9780316403542\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-10: \u003c\/strong\u003e0316403547\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLibrary of Congress (LCCN): \u003c\/strong\u003e2014041189\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrimary Genre (BISAC):\u003c\/strong\u003e BIOGRAPHY \u0026amp; AUTOBIOGRAPHY \/ Music\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSub-Genres (BISAC): \u003c\/strong\u003eMUSIC \/ Genres \u0026amp; Styles \/ Country \u0026amp; Bluegrass; BIOGRAPHY \u0026amp; AUTOBIOGRAPHY \/ Cultural, Ethnic \u0026amp; Regional \/ General\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/strong\u003e5.5 x 1.13 x 8.25 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight: \u003c\/strong\u003e11.2 oz (approx. 0.70 lbs)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore the legendary life, career, and untold stories of a music icon. Tap to discover Willie Nelson's captivating memoir \u003cem\u003eIt's a Long Story\u003c\/em\u003e today!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bust-Down Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49854227120443,"sku":"0316403547","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9780316403542.jpg?v=1787243425","url":"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/its-a-long-story-my-life-willie-nelson-9780316403542","provider":"Bust-Down Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}