Published: June 27, 2009 05:52 pm      

STRINGER: Celebrating the Fourth — Willie Style

Texans, along with their fellow Americans, will celebrate the Fourth of July with family reunions, fireworks, barbecues, rodeos, baseball games, and dozens of other activities. But for many years, Independence Day has become synonymous with Willie Nelson’s gigantic picnics.

Willie grew up in the Hill County community of Abbott. His parents divorced when Willie and his sister were small, and they were reared by their grandparents. Since grandmother taught piano, the children were introduced to music at an early age, and they performed at the local Methodist church as well as in other venues in and around Hillsboro. Willie attended Baylor University briefly, where he said he majored in dominoes.

His first professional success as a musician came as a songwriter with such hits as “Ain’t It Funny How Time Slips Away,” and “Hello Walls.” After living in Nashville during the 1960s, he moved Austin, where he performed regularly at the Armadillo World Headquarters. His beard, bandana, blue jeans, and braid became distinctive trademarks of his outlaw music.

His first 4th of July picnic was held at Dripping Springs near Austin in 1972. Most agreed it was an artistic success with such old-time performers as Tex Ritter, Roy Acuff, and Earl Scruggs, as well as relative newcomers Tom T. Hall and Billy Joe Shaver. Subsequent picnics were held in various locations around the state and massive numbers turned out, which is rather remarkable given the broiling Texas heat. The picnics were promoted as events that would bridge the gaps between young and old, rednecks and hippies, country and rock fans.

After a few years the picnics begin to diminish in popularity, losing their appeal in the swirling dust and unrelenting heat. At times they took on the appearance of a country-western Woodstock, which drove away some previous supporters. One sociologist commented about growing old at Willie’s picnics. But the picnics did generate enormous popularity for Willie, helping to launch his career which included such honors as CMA Entertainer of the Year, five Grammys, 100 albums which sold over 25 million copies, and several movies. He continues to draw large audiences wherever he performs.

This year’s picnic will be a little different. It will be in South Bend, Ind., a far cry from the original event in Dripping Springs.

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Dr. Tommy Stringer is executive director of the Navarro College Foundation.

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