record_label seven spanish angels
Outlaw country is a subgenre of American ___MASK70___ , most popular during the 1970s and early - 1980s , sometimes referred to as the outlaw movement or simply outlaw music . The music has its roots in earlier subgenres like honky tonk and rockabilly and is characterized by a blend of rock and folk rhythms , country instrumentation and introspective lyrics . The movement began as a reaction to the slick production and popular structures of the Nashville sound developed by record producers like Chet Atkins . `` Seven Spanish Angels '' is a song written by Troy Seals and Eddie Setser , and recorded by American ___MASK70___ artist Willie Nelson as a duet with Ray Charles . It was released in November 1984 as the first single from the album Half Nelson . `` Seven Spanish Angels '' was the most successful of Ray Charles ' eight hits on the country chart . The single spent one week at number one and a total of twelve weeks on the country chart . Willie Hugh Nelson ( born April 29 , 1933 ) is an American musician , singer , songwriter , author , poet , actor , and activist . The critical success of the ___MASK23___ " Shotgun Willie " ( 1973 ), combined with the critical and commercial success of " Red Headed Stranger " ( 1975 ) and " Stardust " ( 1978 ), made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in ___MASK70___ . He was one of the main figures of outlaw country , a subgenre of ___MASK70___ that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound . Nelson has acted in over 30 films , co - authored several books , and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana . The Nashville sound originated during the mid 1950s as a subgenre of American ___MASK70___ , replacing the chart dominance of the rough honky tonk music which was most popular in the 1940s and 1950s with " smooth strings and choruses ", " sophisticated background vocals " and " smooth tempos ". It was an attempt " to revive country sales , which had been devastated by the rise of rock ' n ' roll ." Red Headed Stranger is a 1975 ___MASK23___ by American outlaw country singer Willie Nelson . After the wide success of his recordings with ___MASK52___ , coupled with the negotiating skills of his manager , Neil Reshen , Nelson signed a contract with ___MASK35___ , a label that gave him total creative control over his works . The concept for the ___MASK23___ was inspired by the " Tale of the Red Headed Stranger ", a song that Nelson used to play as a disk jockey on his program in Fort Worth , Texas . After signing with Columbia he decided to record the song , and arranged the details during his return to Austin , Texas , from a trip to Colorado . It was recorded at low cost at Autumn Sound Studios in Garland , Texas . The songs featured sparse arrangements , largely limited to Nelson ' s guitar , piano and drums . Nelson presented the finished material to Columbia executives , who were dubious about releasing an ___MASK23___ that they at first thought was a demo . However , Nelson had creative control , so no further production was added . Shotgun Willie is a 1973 ___MASK23___ by Willie Nelson . The recording marks a change of style for Nelson , who later stated that the ___MASK23___ " cleared his throat ". When Nelson refused to sign an early extension of his contract with RCA in 1972 , the ___MASK97___ decided not to release any further recordings . Nelson hired Neil Reshen as his manager , and while Reshen negotiated with RCA , Nelson moved to Austin , Texas , where the ongoing hippie music scene at the Armadillo World Headquarters renewed his musical style . In Nashville , Nelson met producer Jerry Wexler , vice president of Atlantic Records , who was interested in his music . Reshen solved the problems with RCA and signed Nelson with Atlantic Records as their first country music artist .