Visual Quotations

"Visual Quotations"
Photographs by Richard Freeman

Willie Nelson, Erie County Fair, NY - August 17, 2005

At somwehere approaching 80 years old, Willie's still got it. The show photographed here was "Willie and Family". It was the first time I had seen him and I was way excited. But, the show was a little disappointing. He just kind of whipped through his greatest hits. I think his studio albums of the 90s and this past decade are among his strongest, and he played little from them. Then, I saw him in 2008, with his regular band. Wow. What a difference! He played many of these later songs along with the standards (which also sounded better) and several newly penned songs that were as strong as any he has written. He is truly a national Treasure.