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246:, where she performed for the first time—in front of about a thousand people. Impressed by her potential talent, her grandfather bought her a piano for $ 35 when she was six. Three years later, she started playing with Willie and singing with her grandmother around the house. She began playing in functions at Abbott High School and in church with her brother. When she was fourteen, she began traveling with
270:
At age sixteen, Nelson met Bud
Fletcher and they married. Although Fletcher did not have musical abilities, he formed his own band, Bud Fletcher and the Texans, limiting his participation to directing it. She joined on the piano, while her brother sang and played guitar. The band was disassembled in
271:
1955 when she divorced Bud
Fletcher, who was sick. She lost custody of her sons Randy, Michael, and Freddy for playing in honky-tonks and custody was given to her ex-husband's parents. When Fletcher died in a car accident in 1961, Nelson suffered a breakdown and was admitted to a hospital in
168:, which she and her brother joined. The group later dissolved in 1955 after she divorced Fletcher. His death six years later resulted in her suffering a breakdown and briefly losing custody of their children. In 1965 she moved to
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was born in 1933 (Willie later relocated their mother when he reached adulthood). Her father remarried and also moved away, leaving them to be raised by their paternal grandparents. The
Nelsons, who taught singing back in
172:, after her third marriage failed. She played in restaurants and different venues until she was called by her brother from New York in 1973 for a session. She joined Willie Nelson on the piano during his sessions with
275:. To retrieve custody of their children, she married again and started working in a television repair shop in town. The owner of the store rented a piano to comfort her as she recovered. She began working for the
283:, where her brother was working in his music career. She played in different restaurants and other venues until her brother called her from New York in 1973, where he was recording with
279:
Company, demonstrating and selling their products. She retrieved the custody of her sons and moved to Austin, Texas. In 1965, after her third marriage failed, she visited
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318:, in 2008 Nine years later, she was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2020, Nelson co-authored with her brother and writer
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145:(January 1, 1931 – March 10, 2022) was an American pianist and singer, the elder sister of
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Nelson married Bud
Fletcher when she was sixteen. He established a band called
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Southwest
Shuffle: Pioneers of Honky-Tonk, Western Swing, and Country Jazz
778:"Bobbie Nelson, Willie Nelson's Piano-Playing 'Sister Bobbie,' Dead at 91"
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326:. Nelson played her last show with her brother on October 9, 2021 in
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744:"Bobbie Nelson, Longtime Pianist for Brother Willie, Dies at 91"
718:"Sister Bobbie Grounded Willie Nelson in His Music—And His Life"
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266:(L–R) Willie and Bobbie Nelson performing in concert in 2012
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when Nelson was five. Her grandfather took her to singing
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Nelson's grandmother started instructing her to play
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Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band
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Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band
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557:Nelson, Willie, Bud Shrake & Edwin Shrake 2000
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909:Nelson, Willie; Bud Shrake; Edwin Shrake (2000).
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953:The Improbable Rise of Redneck Rock: New Edition
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305:. She joined Willie Nelson's newly formed band,
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198:full-time and began touring with her brother.
716:Spong, John; Hall, Michael (March 10, 2022).
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21:For other people of the similar name, see
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223:, started their grandchildren in music.
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664:Clarion-Ledger staff (March 12, 2022).
342:, on March 10, 2022, at the age of 91.
18:American pianist and singer (1931–2022)
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314:Nelson released her solo debut album,
161:, her grandfather bought her a piano.
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1030:21st-century American women pianists
1020:20th-century American women pianists
894:. Trafford Publishing. p. 473.
690:Hudak, Joseph (September 15, 2020).
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474:December Day: Willie's Stash, Vol. 1
460:Farther Along: The Gospel Collection
811:"Bobbie Nelson – Album Discography"
742:Genzlinger, Neil (March 12, 2022).
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622:Freeman, Doug (January 18, 2008).
238:conventions that were held on the
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1015:20th-century American pianists
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666:"Bobbie Lee Nelson – Obituary"
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955:. University of Texas Press.
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23:Bobby Nelson (disambiguation)
1040:Country musicians from Texas
890:Laufenberg, Norbert (2005).
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932:Willie Nelson: An Epic Life
194:. The same year she joined
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928:Patoski, Joe Nick (2008).
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892:Entertainment Celebrities
871:Kienzle, Richard (2003).
841:"Bobbie Nelson – Credits"
511:Silver Knife/ATO Records
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419:Gospel: Old Time Religion
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214:, soon after her brother
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911:Willie: An Autobiography
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491:The Willie Nelson Family
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1045:Family of Willie Nelson
913:. Cooper Square Press.
630:. Austin Chronicle Corp
585:Patoski, Joe Nick 2008
450:Hill Country Christmas
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254:and throughout Texas.
50:Background information
652:Kienzle, Richard 2003
423:I'd Rather Have Jesus
406:I'd Rather Have Jesus
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936:. Hachette Digital.
464:Perdernales Records
328:New Braunfels, Texas
170:Nashville, Tennessee
428:Laserlight Digital
206:Nelson was born in
951:Reid, Jan (2004).
748:The New York Times
441:Finer Art Records
437:How Great Thou Art
322:the autobiography
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962:978-0-292-70197-7
943:978-0-316-01778-7
901:978-1-4120-5335-8
882:978-0-415-94103-7
532:978-1-984-85413-1
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302:Phases and Stages
191:Phases and Stages
143:Bobbie Lee Nelson
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159:Hillsboro, Texas
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129:Years active
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1010:2022 deaths
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346:Discography
248:evangelists
999:Categories
599:, p.
571:, p.
539:References
502:Loving You
320:David Ritz
308:The Family
273:Fort Worth
240:courthouse
232:pump organ
202:Early life
196:The Family
166:The Texans
155:pump organ
120:Instrument
112:Occupation
71:1931-01-01
56:Birth name
852:March 11,
822:March 11,
784:March 11,
761:March 13,
756:0362-4331
727:March 11,
701:March 14,
675:March 14,
544:Citations
281:Nashville
151:keyboards
133:1953–2022
123:Keyboards
846:AllMusic
816:AllMusic
221:Arkansas
115:Musician
981:Discogs
634:June 3,
526:(2020,
250:around
153:with a
106:Country
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504:(with
397:Label
394:Album
364:Label
361:Album
351:Albums
252:Austin
236:gospel
216:Willie
102:Genres
97:, U.S.
80:, U.S.
518:Books
498:2023
486:2021
469:2014
456:2013
446:1997
433:1996
415:1992
402:1986
391:Year
369:2008
358:Year
334:Death
230:on a
228:piano
990:IMDb
957:ISBN
938:ISBN
915:ISBN
896:ISBN
877:ISBN
854:2022
824:2022
786:2022
763:2022
752:ISSN
729:2022
703:2022
677:2022
636:2012
528:ISBN
299:and
188:and
85:Died
65:Born
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601:218
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