Born in 1933 in the tiny Central Texas farming community of Abbott, Willie Nelson grew up in a world permeated with music: The gospel songs of the grandparents who raised him; the blues and Mexican corridas that eased the labor of the cotton fields; the country and Western Swing hits filling the airwaves from Nashville and Fort Worth ... and the inner music that percolated up ceaselessly inside of him. Melodies are easy, he says of his songwriting; if he needs one, he just plucks one out of the air. The air, he says, is full of music.

Since waxing his first single in 1957, he has given birth to concept albums (his first, Yesterday's Wine, was recorded in 1971), gospel albums, jazz albums, movie soundtracks, myriad duet projects, Christmas albums, live albums and an album of pop standards (1978's Stardust) which has become a standard in itself.

His around beat-blues-flavored vocals set the Nashville musical establishment on its ear. His spare sounding breakthrough album, 1975's Red Headed Stranger, went so against the Music City grain of the day that his record company president first thought Nelson had presented him with a demo. His early 70s merger of the traditional country and long-haired hippie audiences was called suicidal at the time and has since come to be regarded as visionary.

Outside the recording studio, Nelson waged a much-heralded battle with the IRS (which has since been settled) and established himself as a champion for the family farmer with his annual Farm Aid concerts. His films include The Electric Horseman (with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda), Songwriter (with Kris Kristofferson), Wag the Dog (with Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman) and many others, including Gramercy Pictures' upcoming The Hi Lo Country (Woody Harrelson), which is set for release this December.

At an age when most country singers are assembling their boxed set retrospectives or contemplating moving to Branson, Missouri, Willie Nelson is still drinking deep of the restorative waters of innovation and inspiration.

Even after more than 200 albums, his latest release, Teatro, stands apart as one of the most daring endeavors in a career full of musical high wire acts. Produced by celebrated producer/musician Daniel Lanois (U2, Peter Gabriel, the Neville Bros., Bob Dylan), Teatro blends Lanois' atmospheric and evocative production touches with Nelson's plainspoken yet subtly subversive songwriting mastery. Today, Nelson divides his time between the road and his beloved Pedernales recording studio/golf course in the Hill Country outside of Austin, Texas.

Often asked when he plans to retire, the 65-year-old Nelson invariably replies with a smile, "All I do is play music and golf, which one do you want me to give up?"