Family (Willie Nelson's band)

The Family
Willie Nelson & Family performing in Washington, D.C., in 2012
Background information
Genres	Country
Years active	1973 (1973)–present
Associated acts	Willie Nelson
Website	willienelson.com
Members	Bobbie Nelson Paul English Mickey Raphael Billy English Kevin Smith
Past members	Jody Payne Bee Spears

The Family is Willie Nelson's touring and recording group. Nelson, who did not manage through the 1960s to succeed as a singer, retired after the failure of his 1971 album Yesterday's Wine. The following year, he returned from retirement rejuvenated by the burgeoning music movement of Austin, Texas.

In 1973, he formed a new backing band. The new lineup consisted of some of the members of his old road band "The Record Men," with the addition of new members. The original lineup included his sister, Bobbie, on the piano; drummer Paul English; harmonicist Mickey Raphael; bassist Bee Spears; and guitarist Jody Payne. The current lineup includes all the members but Jody Payne, who retired in 2008, and Bee Spears, who died in 2011. Billy English joined in 2010 to help his brother Paul after he suffered a stroke the same year. Replacing Spears, Kevin Smith joined the band in 2011.

During the 1960s, while recording as an RCA Records artist, Nelson was backed in the studio by session musicians, while he also had a road band. In 1966, he formed a new lineup for his road band, consisting of Johnny Bush on guitar; Jimmy Day on the steel guitar; Paul English on drums; and David Zettner on bass. The band was originally named "The Offenders", but after it was rejected by the promoters, the name was changed to "The Record Men", after Nelson's single "Mr. Record Man". Zettner left the band in 1968 after he was drafted. He was replaced on the bass by his friend Bee Spears. While playing in the band, Johnny Bush also played as a solo act on the package of the Willie Nelson Show. After Zettner was discharged from the military he returned to the band, and Spears started to play for Bush. Bush left The Record Men to concentrate on his solo act a few months later. After a brief exit of Jimmy Day to play with Ray Price's Cherokee Cowboys, Paul English's older brother, Oliver, joined for nine months playing the steel guitar. In 1969 Jimmy Day and David Zettner returned, while Billy English, Paul English's younger brother, joined to play the drums.