Bobbie Lee Nelson (born January 1, 1931) is an American pianist and singer, sister of Willie Nelson and a member of his band The Family. Her grandmother taught her to play the piano at age five with a pump organ, and after successful appearances at gospel conventions held in Hillsboro, Texas, her grandfather bought her a piano.She started singing in school acts and in church with her brother. At age sixteen she married Bud Fletcher, who formed his own band, The Texans. She joined on the piano, while her brother joined on vocals and guitar. The band was disassembled in 1955 after she divorced Bud Fletcher. In 1961, after suffering a breakdown caused by the death of Bud Fletcher, and the custody of her children was given to Fletcher's parents, she moved to Fort Worth, Texas where she worked for the Hammond Organ Company. After recovering her children, she moved to Austin, Texas.In 1965 she moved to Nashville, Tennessee after her third marriage failed. She played in restaurants and different venues until she was called by her brother from New York in 1973 for a session. She joined Willie Nelson on the piano during his sessions with Atlantic Records, that produced The Troublemaker, Shotgun Willie, Phases and Stages and Red Headed Stranger. The same year she joined The Family full time and began touring with her brother.
$1.1 Million
