Willie Nelson brings musical 'Family' to Genesee

Making a case for longevity in the music business, look no further than Willie Nelson and Family, when they hit Waukegan's Genesee Theatre stage 7 p.m. Sunday. Touring in support of "Willie Nelson's Country," a CD collection of classic country songs, Nelson has already entered his second half-century of touring and recording.

"The band's sound is easily recognizable, and the identity is pure Willie Nelson, so you know his 'living legend' status is earned, and well-known," said Sarah Rankin, the theater's marketing manager.

The core "Family" entourage - Paul English (drums), Mickey Raphael (Harmonica) and sister Bobbi Nelson (piano) - has been together for more than 30 years, playing beside the country star in different venues and traveling over the many miles in his tour bus, Honeysuckle Rose III.

"The trick is to keep moving, always keep moving ... and don't die, that's important too," said Mickey Raphael, during a phone conversation, when explaining the lengthy tenure for band members.

Raphael defines the band's sound with his harmonica, using it as a complementary instrument to Nelson's stellar guitar flat-picking leads. Willie's standards like "Whiskey River," "Always On My Mind," "Crazy," "Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground" and "Blue Skies" showcase Raphael's contributions, and how important a "laid back" feel can be.

"I'm known more for tone, and draw phrasing that brings inspirational aspects from a simple style of play," he said. "As a session player, it's the genre that sets the mark, and I've played with Motley Crue and U2, besides country music."

Coming out of the burgeoning Texas folk music scene in the late 1970s, Raphael got noticed and played with Waylon Jennings, Guy Clark and Michael Martin Murphy, always listening to other harmonica players for nuances. "I was influenced by Don Brooks, a local player, and he was like King Curtis on sax, it was a melodic tone. Bluesman Paul Butterfield, I got to know him, and he had a phrasing and tone that was beautiful, and clean."

The new CD features songs that Nelson had a penchant for recording. Through his publicist, Nelson said, "I picked some songs like 'Ain't Nobody's Business' and others that we liked and could do something with."

Raphael personally enjoyed playing "Ain't Nobody's Business," and "Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down" (an old Carter Family tune). "Those are two favorites on the recordings, but I like them all. We usually did two, or three, takes and picked the best. I also toned it down, playing less and less, more sparingly, which made a bigger impact on the overall sound."

When not on the road with Nelson, averaging 130 shows and cities annually, Raphael has been working on a project with Calexico, a country roots bands, enjoying the rerelease of his own CD, "Hand to Mouth."

"This tour is going well," Raphael said, "and we're looking forward to Waukegan and the Genesee."