7/22/2012 Willie Nelson & Family, Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, AZ


 9 years ago today...

July 22, 2012 - Phoenix, AZ

Willie Nelson & Family took the stage for the 100th concert I had attended at Celebrity Theatre.
Willie has been one of my favorites since the 1970s. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview him in 1980 between shows at the DuQuoin (IL) State Fair when he was coming off the "Honeysuckle Rose" movie and CMA Entertainer of the Year honors.
This show 32 years later found Willie at age 79 showing signs of slowing down despite still spending 300+ days on the road. Sister Bobbi remained on piano and Paul English on a scaled-down drum kit, but the band was smaller and mellower than their heyday.
With this being my 100th ticketed show at Celebrity Theatre, we were invited by venue owner Rich Hazelwood to hang out with him and his little dog in his private suite that sits high above the stage. The suite included sofas and theatre seating for 20 or so with a private bar, draft beer tap and restroom. Rich was a gracious host and thanked me for our business and loyalty over the years.
Hazelwood mentioned that Willie was historically a willing meet & greet participant, agreeing to pose for photos and autographs with sponsors and customers. Those days had passed, and Willie now preferred to simply move directly from tour bus to stage with minimal interaction. Even as Willie's vocals and guitar prowess had declined with age, he remained a top draw at CT and a revered performer. I shot the photo of Willie on my phone from the owner's suite.
Hazelwood died last March with his daughter taking over management of the iconic theatre in the round. I was honored to be part of a video saluting Rich and the theatre's induction into the Arizona Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame. He had invested a lot in improving the historic venue, upgrading the house audio, lighting, seating, bars and parking. His legacy as a concert promoter and venue owner lives on.
Willie continues to be On The Road Again this fall at age 88. We will see him this October as part of the Outlaw Music Festival. Celebrity Theatre is now in its 57th year of operation and was named to the National Register of Historic Places two years ago.




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