Fantasy Springs and KPLM announce Willie Nelson's return to Indio stage

INDIO, California -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- If ever the words "living legend" were more than just public relations bluster, the application would be to Willie Hugh Nelson. The iconic Texan is the creative genius behind historic recordings like "Crazy," "Hello Walls," “Red Headed Stranger” and “Stardust.” His career has spanned six decades. His catalog boasts more than 200 albums and on Friday, March 1st Nelson will take the stage once again, at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.

Nelson has earned every conceivable award and honor to be bestowed upon a person in his profession. He has also amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor and activist. In many ways, however, the weighty distinction "living legend" does Nelson a disservice, for it discounts the extent to which he is a thriving, relevant and progressive musical and cultural force. In the last five years alone he delivered 10 new releases, two of which received Grammy nominations, and a career-spanning box set, released his debut novel and again headlined Farm Aid, an event he co-founded in 1985, all the while continuing to lobby against horse slaughter and produce his own blend of biodiesel fuel.

As ever, Nelson tours tirelessly, climbing aboard Honeysuckle Rose III (he rode his first two buses into the ground), taking his music and fans on a seemingly endless journey to places that were well worth the ride.

Just this year, Nelson entered into a historic new record deal with Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment. The deal marks a label homecoming for Nelson, who, from 1975-1993, cut a phenomenal string of top-selling singles and album for Columbia Records, beginning with 1975’s seminal smash Red Headed Stranger. To kick off the new agreement, fans can look forward to five brand-new albums. The first, Heroes, was released in May 2012. The albums will showcase new songs and deep country classics with guest artists including Merle Haggard, Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Joe Shaver, Sheryl Crow, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson. Just this month, Nelson released his book Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. Willie Nelson performance are on sale for $99, $79, $69, $39 at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, via telephone (800) 827-2946 or online at www.FantasySpringsResort.com.