Early on, Willie Nelson was recognized as a top-notch songwriter-“Crazy” and “Funny How Time Slips Awa y.” to name just two classics. His singular vocal style, however, so rubbed the country establishment the wrong way that after a decade of trying it “their way,” he abandoned Nashville in 1970 for his home state, Texas-specifically, the progressive Austin music scene, where he grew his hair long, donned a headband, and (like kindred soul Waylon Jennings) became an “outlaw.” In 1975, Columbia released Red Headed Stranger, a self-produced concept album whose gritty, minimalist sound ran contrary to everything countrypolitan Music City was standing for. When “Blue Eyes Crying” gave Willie his first-ever #1 hit, you could feel the fresh air coming right through the radio.
Willie Nelson "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain"

Willie Nelson The Music of Willie Nelson