Willie Nelson’s First Top 10 Hit Turns 65: The Song That Helped Him Land His First Record Deal

On this day (August 22) in 1961, Willie Nelson recorded “Touch Me” in his first recording session for Liberty Records. He released it as a single in May 1962, and it peaked at No. 7, giving Nelson his first top 10 hit as a solo artist. He wouldn’t break into the upper region of the chart again until the mid-1970s.

Long before Nelson was an outlaw country icon, he was a struggling songwriter. Before moving to Nashville, he sold his song “Family Bible,” and it became a hit for Claude Gray. While he wasn’t initially credited as the songwriter, its success gave him the momentum to relocate from Texas to Music City.

Nelson arrived in Nashville in 1960 and began looking for a record deal. While being turned down by nearly every label in town, he started spending time at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. The legendary bar was the haunt of several singers, songwriters, and musicians. Songwriters Harlan Howard and Hank Cochran were among the club’s talented clientele. Cochran worked for Hal Smith and Ray Price’s Pamper Music and had just received a $50-per-week raise.

Willie Nelson Gets His Foot in the Door

After Hank Cochran heard Willie Nelson performing his material at Tootsie’s, he convinced Price and Smith to use the $50 to put Nelson on the payroll. “Touch Me” was one of the songs that convinced Cochran to stick his neck out for Nelson.

Soon, Faron Young recorded “Hello Walls” and Price recorded “Night Life.” Then, when Price’s bassist, a young Johnny Paycheck, quit the band, he hired Nelson to take his place.

Other artists started notching hits with Nelson’s songs. Then, in 1961, Patsy Cline released his song “Crazy,” which became a massive crossover hit. That year, Harlan Howard took some of the up-and-comer’s songs to Joe Allison at Liberty Records. Soon, he had the recording contract he had been looking for.

Nelson’s First Hits

Willie Nelson recorded “Touch Me” in August 1961. That November, he recorded “Willingly” with his future wife Shirley Collie. Liberty released the duet first, in March 1962. It peaked at No. 10. Two months later, the label released “Touch Me,” which reached No. 7 and became Nelson’s first solo top 10 hit.

He reached the top 40 several times throughout the remainder of the 1960s and early ’70s. His next single to break into the top 10 was “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” It topped the chart in 1975 and marked the beginning of the most successful period of Nelson’s career.

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