Live & kickin’

Willie Nelson is on the road again with a scheduled stop in Reno. The singer-songwriter grew up in a musical family in Abbott, Tex., where he was influenced by country, western swing, blues and Mexican corridas. After serving a brief period in the Air Force, he set his sights on the music industry. His first stab at success was as a songwriter, one of his most notable hits being “Crazy,” which was sung by Patsy Cline. Nelson scored Top 10 hits as a recording artist during the early 1960s, but it wasn’t until his 1975 hit album, Red Headed Stranger, that he got the breakthrough he was seeking. His crossover appeal has given him the creative freedom to work with artists as diverse as Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan and Norah Jones. In addition to being a prolific songwriter, Nelson has also acted in several movies and is a co-founder of Farm Aid, the annual benefit concert for American farmers. Willie Nelson performs 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Reno Events Center, 400 N. Center St. Tickets are $35-$70. Call 335-8840.