Willie Nelson’s sister, Bobbie Nelson, has passed at the age of 91. The pianist, composer and author passed away this morning (Thursday 10th March) peacefully encircled by her family. “Her grace, beauty and talent made the world a better place. She was the first member of the Village Band as their pianist and vocalist,” the Nelsen family said in a statement. “Our hearts are broken and she will be greatly missed. But we are lucky to have her in our lives”. So far, no cause of death was provided, but the Nelson family requested privacy.
For more than 50 years, millions of music lovers have known and loved Bobbie Nelson and her wonderful talent for piano, recording and journeying along with her brother and music icon Willie Nelson.
A key figure in its voice and authentic member of Willie Nelson and the home crew, she sits at the very rim of the spotlight at the piano, a modest and assertive reality that periodically turns out to conduct the band, enchanting listeners with her lavish gifts with piano. It all began when Bobbie and Willie were presented to music by their grandparents, who grew siblings in the small town of Abbott, Texas. “When I was learning to play the piano, my grandfather said to me, ‘You know, if you really make up your mind, one day you can make a living from music,’ Bobbie Nelson said. “And I never forgot it.”
When the siblings have become teenagers, they played hunky-tonks in bands with Bobbie’s husband, Bud Fletcher, and their guitar-playing daddy, Ira Nelson. But when Bud Fletcher died in a car accident and Bobbie was presenting her three young sons, she gave up music and went to a company school in Fort Worth to understand what performed in-office secretarial talents. However, music help her land his first job beyond school, as the Hammond Organ Company employed Nelson to work in the company’s music library and show the company’s organ clerical talents.
As her children grew, she also started performing as a pianist in restaurants, lounges and dinner clubs, ultimately gaining a living as a pianist in Austin and Nashville. She further explained “It’s an amazing thing because I got back to making real music, not just showing off and selling organs. I’m lucky enough to sit down and play with my heart and soul”. So, our heartfelt condolences to her family members who going through a very tough time. It is very difficult to believe that Bobbie Nelson is no more. We are praying for her resting soul. For further details, you just need to stay connected to All Social Updates.