''The Western Express'' was a country-music radio show transmitted by
KCNC
KCNC-TV (channel 4) is a television station in Denver, Colorado, United States, airing programming from the CBS network. It is owned and operated by the network's CBS News and Stations division, and maintains studios on Lincoln Street (betwee ...
in
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise. Accord ...
. The show started in 1947, hosted by disk jockey Charlie Williams. In 1956, the station later hired
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album '' Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of '' Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and '' Stardust'' (1 ...
, then a struggling singer-songwriter who previously worked on different radio stations. Nelson hosted the three-hour-long show singing his original songs, taking calls and playing records.
After moving to
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...
, Nelson hosted the show for
KVAN, in
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, located in Clark County. Incorporated in 1857, Vancouver has a population of 190,915 as of the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Was ...
. Initially on a morning one-hour slot, Nelson limited the format to only play records. Through public appearances, he became a popular DJ, eventually moving to a four-hour-long slot. The show was cancelled in 1957, after KVAN switched the programming format from country music to rock and roll.
Beginnings
![Willie Nelson 1957](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Willie_Nelson_1957.jpg)
''The Western Express'' started in 1947, being aired by
KCNC
KCNC-TV (channel 4) is a television station in Denver, Colorado, United States, airing programming from the CBS network. It is owned and operated by the network's CBS News and Stations division, and maintains studios on Lincoln Street (betwee ...
in
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise. Accord ...
and hosted by disk jockey Charlie Williams. Upon Williams' sudden move to California in 1956, the station hired
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album '' Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of '' Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and '' Stardust'' (1 ...
, who previously worked short stints in local stations. Besides of sign-on shift, Nelson took ''The Western Express'', the three-hour afternoon show that ran from 12:00 to 15:00.
During the first half-hour, he performed his original songs with the accompaniment of his guitar, while he played records for the remaining of the show. Nelson was also joined on the show by his guitarist, Oliver English; drummer Tony Roznozky; and Nelson's later to-be drummer and Oliver's brother,
Paul English. The program also featured Nelson taking calls from his listeners on the area.
Texas Willie Nelson
Later the same year, Nelson moved to
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...
. He was hired by
KVAN in
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, located in Clark County. Incorporated in 1857, Vancouver has a population of 190,915 as of the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Was ...
, where he hosted the show from 13:30 to 14:30. Nelson removed his singing from the format, and limited himself to only play records. While he was off-the-air, Nelson sold airtime for publicity on his show. Dubbed, "Wee Willie Nelson" and "Texas Willie Nelson", he started to make public appearances. Due to his high popularity, Nelson's time slot was changed to 10:00 – 14:00, becoming the most listened radio personality on the Portland-Vancouver area.
In February 1957, Nelson used the studios of the radio make his first recordings. He cut his original "
No Place for Me
"No Place for Me" is the debut single of country singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. Nelson recorded the song while working as a disc jockey at KVAN in Vancouver, Washington, using a studio of the radio. Through a DJ he met during his time working o ...
", along with
Leon Payne
Leon Roger Payne (June 15, 1917 – September 11, 1969), "the Blind Balladeer", was an American country music singer and songwriter.
Life
He was born in Alba, Texas, United States. He was blind in one eye at birth, and lost the sight in the other ...
's "Lumberjack". Upon sending the recordings to Starday Records in
Houston, Texas, he sold the records pressed under the "Willie Nelson label" on ''The Western Express''. Nelson also made extra profits by promoting other acts on the air, while he earned US$40 a week.
Nelson met and interviewed on his show publicist and songwriter
Mae Boren Axton
Mae Boren Axton (September 14, 1914 – April 9, 1997) was known in the music industry as the "Queen Mother of Nashville." She co-wrote the Elvis Presley hit single "Heartbreak Hotel" with Tommy Durden. She worked with Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire, ...
. After expressing his admiration for Boren, Nelson played for her on his reel-tape recorder the work in progress of his original "
Family Bible Family Bible may refer to:
* Family Bible (book), a Bible handed down through a family
* Family Bible (Willie Nelson album), ''Family Bible'' (Willie Nelson album), 1980
* Family Bible (song), "Family Bible" (song), a song written by Willie Nelson
...
" to know her opinion. Impressed, Axton encouraged Nelson to continue to pursue his songwriting career by going to Nashville. By this time, and due to his high popularity, Nelson demanded a raise that was denied by the station. He quit the show soon after. ''The Western Express'' was cancelled and KVAN later changed its programming format from country music to the newborn
rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the South. As a genre it blends the sound of Western musical styles such as country with that of rhythm and blu ...
. Nelson left the radio business, focusing on his recordings and live performances.
Footnotes
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Western Express
Willie Nelson
American country music radio programs
1940s American radio programs
1950s American radio programs