Prominent singer and songwriter Willie Nelson has donated a major part of his personal collection of correspondence, song manuscripts, records and awards to the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas, Austin.
The singer's collection comprises of posters, illustrations, platinum records, certificates, signed books, screenplays, letters, portraits and photographs from musicians (Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Bill Clinton and Ann Richards). Indian headdresses and spirit catchers are also featured in the collection.
Nelson's contribution will join the Briscoe Center's existing music and material culture possessions that includes some 50,000 field and commercial recordings, the John A. Lomax Family Papers, and the archives of the Armadillo World Headquarters among others.
The Willie Nelson Collection will help scholars understand Nelson's music, career, relationships and his contributions as an activist and philanthropist.
"Willie Nelson is an iconic American and an iconic Texan, so it's fitting that the Briscoe Center for American History should help safeguard his archives," said Bill Powers, President of University of Texas at Austin, in a statement. "Because of his generous gift, scholars for decades to come will have access to the inner workings of his creativity and will better understand his influence on the American culture. It's a great day for UT's Briscoe Center."
After a gap of nearly 18 years, 81-year-old Nelson recently launched an album, "Band of Brothers", featuring mostly new, original music.
Out of the 14 tracks, nine of the songs were written by the Red Headed Stranger and Buddy Cannon. The singer, inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame, has also included a few covers - Vince Gill's "Whenever You Come Around" and Billy Joe Shaver's "The Git Go" (a duet with Jamey Johnson), Taste of Country reports.
Willie Nelson 'Band of Brothers' Track Listing:
1. 'Bring It On'
2. 'Guitar in the Corner'
3. 'The Wall'
4. 'Whenever You Come Around'
5. 'Wives and Girlfriends'
6. 'I Thought I Left You'
7. 'Send Me a Picture'
8. 'Used to Her'
9. 'The Git Go'
10. 'Band of Brothers'
11. 'Hard to Be an Outlaw'
12. 'Crazy Like Me'
13. 'The Songwriters'
14. 'I've Got a Lot of Traveling to Do'
