Lukas Nelson showed great promise as a musician very early in life. His flair for songcraft emerged at the tender age of 11, to be exact. He told radio host Howard Stern in an interview that he started playing the guitar and writing songs at 10 or 11. Stern then asked him, "Was there any part of you that said, 'I want to be close to my father [Willie Nelson], this is the way to do it'?"
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Nelson replied, "That's exactly why I started playing music. 'Cause my dad would leave all the time and I would be naturally upset as a little kid. And I knew that of I learned how to be a great musician, we would be bonded forever."
He added a key clarification. Nelson said, "It wasn't about being as great as him. It was just about speaking the same language, like being part of the club that understands music." He earned entree into that exclusive circle long ago.
Lukas Nelson Became A Musician As A Child
His Father And Kris Kristofferson Loved Lukas's First Song
Nelson, now a 36-year-old Grammy winner, embarked on a career in music. His first song, written when he was a young boy, was called "You Were It." His father loved it - and not just because his kid wrote it. It was just a great, mellow tune that would stand the test of time.
Reflecting back on it with Stern, Nelson shared, "I don't think that since, I've written a song that's better. My dad heard it back then and he was blown away. So he cut it and recorded it and put it on his album in 2004. Kris Kristofferson heard it and he said, 'Man, you don't have a choice but to be a songwriter.'"
Lukas Nelson has followed that path ever since. And done it on his own terms, not just as Willie Nelson's son. The first time I heard "You Were It," I marveled at how sophisticated and mature it was, especially because it was written by a youngster. A genuine budding virtuoso.
Being Independent Of His Dad Was Important To Lukas
As much as he clearly loves and respects his father, Lukas Nelson wanted to be his own person. He has done that. He explained it succinctly to Howard Stern: "I wanted to make him proud by not needing him," he said. "I put 70,000 miles on an Econoline Ford with my first band. We went out for 15 years and played 250 shows a year straight. We built something with ourselves that now I can say I feel like I've earned. I think that's what makes my dad and my mom the most proud."
