New Willie Nelson Biography “It’s A Long Story, My Life” Coming
One of the most prolific artists in the history of country music is quickly becoming one of the most prolific writers as well. Willie Nelson has announced yet another autobiography about his life called It’s A Long Story, My Life to be released on May 5th, 2015 through Little, Brown and Company. It is a collaboration with New York-based writer David Ritz, known for his work with other music artists including Ray Charles, Buddy Guy, Etta James and the Neville Brothers.
The 400-page biography is said to be the “unvarnished, complete story of Willie Nelson’s life” that touches on his time in Texas and Nashville to Hawaii, to his legendary bus, his drive to write music, the women in his life, his collaborations, and his biggest lows and highs-from his bankruptcy to the founding of Farm Aid. It is also said to include stories from many of Willie Nelson’s friends.
If this all sounds familiar, it’s because this is not the first autobiography or biography of Willie Nelson’s life. Willie and author Bud Shrake published Willie: An Autobiography originally through Simon and Schuster in 1988. It was later re-issued by Cooper Square press in paperback in 2000. The 320-page book also included many stories from Willie Nelson’s friends and family. In 2008’s author Joe Nick Patoski published Willie Nelson: An Epic Life. The massive 567-page biography was also published through Little, Brown and Company. And in 2012, Willie Nelson’s 175-page Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die, Musings From The Road was released through HarperCollins in loose conjunction with Willie’s album Heroes, which included a song of the same name.
What the new book promises to cover from Willie Nelson’s own perspective, and that hasn’t been covered before, is the time from 1988 to the present when Willie’s life has seen new love interests, new endeavors and challenges, and the singer has settled in as one of the most important artists in the history of country music.
It’s A Long Story, My Life will be released just days after Willie’s 82nd birthday. The book boasts of being “the last word about his life-from the man himself.”
Mike2
February 14, 2015 @ 11:11 am
Awesome news! I read Waylon’s and George Jones’s autobiographies last year and they were both incredible. I very much look forward to reading this one as well. On a side note, I hope Merle gets one written while he’s still alive. His life story is nothing short of incredible.
D
February 14, 2015 @ 11:31 am
Bob, what do you think about Willie? And don’t hold back”¦.give it your full douchebaggery.
Trigger
February 14, 2015 @ 12:19 pm
I don’t know that I have the permission to post the fulls speech. That is why I haven’t. You can read it in full here:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-grammys-2015-transcript-of-bob-dylans-musicares-person-of-year-speech-20150207-story.html#page=1
Tubb
February 14, 2015 @ 5:21 pm
Might have to check this out. I love country music autobiographies, there seemed to be a slew of them published in the mid-90’s.
I read Willie recently and was pretty underwhelmed. It jumped around a good bit, and closed with a 20 page chapter on the spiritual world, or something to that effect. Hopefully this is a little more linear and coherent.
Charlie
February 16, 2015 @ 9:19 am
Reading about music is like listening about painting.
Klancy Shriver
February 16, 2015 @ 8:05 pm
Awesome news! I just got done reading George Jones’ a few months back. Incredible read. Though I am curious if Trig or anyone else on here for that matter has any other suggestions to hold me over until this is released
Trigger
February 16, 2015 @ 9:15 pm
The Waylon Jennings autobiography with Lenny Kaye is also really good.