Sep 6, 1929

Ira Nelson marries Myrle Greenhaw in Newton County, Arkansas. They have two children who become musicians: piano player Bobbie Lee Nelson and Country Music Hall of Famer Willie Nelson

Apr 30, 1933

Willie Nelson is born in Abbott, Texas, though some relatives insist the birth was April 29. After writing "Crazy" and "Hello Walls," he becomes a major figure in the '70s outlaw movement, earning a plaque in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993

Oct 27, 1952

Willie Nelson marries Jewel Matthews in Cleburne, Texas

Jan 20, 1957

Willie Nelson has a daughter, Susie Nelson, in Vancouver, Washington. In 1987, she writes a biography of her father, "Heart Worn Memories." She later works as a radio personality for SiriusXM's classic-country channel Willie's Place

May 21, 1958

Willie Nelson Jr.--better known as "Billy"--is born in Fort Worth. He dies in December 1991 from an apparent suicide

Jan 1, 1959

Ray Price founds the Pamper Music publishing company with Hal Smith and Claude Caviness. It develops songwriters Hank Cochran, Willie Nelson and Harlan Howard, yielding such titles as "Make The World Go Away," "Crazy" and "I Fall To Pieces"

Apr 28, 1959

Billy Walker becomes the first artist to record a Willie Nelson song, cutting "The Storm Within My Heart" at the Bradley Recording Studio in Nashville

May 8, 1961

Faron Young's version of the Willie Nelson-penned "Hello Walls" hits #1 on the Billboard country singles chart

Aug 22, 1961

Willie Nelson holds his first recording session for Liberty Records, yielding his first solo hit, "Touch Me"

Sep 25, 1961

Ray Price records "San Antonio Rose," the first tribute album to honor Bob Wills. The band includes Willie Nelson