Willie Nelson was a book.
Willie Hugh Nelson ( born April 29 , 1933 ) is an American musician , singer , songwriter , author , poet , actor , and activist . Born during the Great Depression , and raised by his grandparents , Nelson wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at ten . After graduating from high school in 1950 , he joined the Air Force but was later discharged due to back problems . Nelson moved to Vancouver , Washington , where he wrote `` Family Bible '' and recorded the song `` Lumberjack '' in 1956 . During that time , he wrote songs that would become country standards , including `` Funny How Time Slips Away '' , `` Hello Walls '' , `` Pretty Paper '' , and `` Crazy '' .