Apr 30, 1971

Willie and Connie Nelson are married in Las Vegas, Nevada

May 3, 1971

Willie Nelson records the original version of "Yesterday's Wine" at RCA Studio B in Nashville. The song becomes a hit for Merle Haggard & George Jones 11 years later

May 4, 1971

Willie Nelson records "Me And Paul" and "Help Me Make It Through The Night" for the first time at Nashville's RCA Studio B. Both songs will become hits for him in future years when he re-records them

Oct 21, 1971

Willie Nelson records a solo version of "Good Hearted Woman" in an afternoon session at Nashville's RCA Studio B. A duet version of the song with Waylon Jennings becomes a standard four years later

Nov 2, 1971

Willie Nelson and Shirley Collie are divorced

Mar 17, 1972

An outdoors festival in Dripping Springs, Texas, is one of the first to draw hippies and traditional country fans. In the lineup: Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Roy Acuff, Buck Owens, Kris Kristofferson, Tex Ritter and Tom T. Hall

Apr 25, 1972

Willie Nelson begins two days of recording at RCA Studio B which yield the concept album "Phases And Stages." The first session includes "Pretend I Never Happened," which Waylon Jennings remakes weeks later

Apr 27, 1972

Willie Nelson concludes recording for the concept album "Phases And Stages" at RCA Studio B in Nashville. The last song on the date is the classic "Mountain Dew"

Aug 11, 1972

Willie Nelson makes his first appearance at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas

Feb 5, 1973

Willie Nelson begins recording his "Shotgun Willie" album at the Atlantic Recording Studios in New York. The project includes his first version of "Whiskey River"