How did you first start playing with Willie?
My dear friend David Zepner got picked
up to play with Willie, but then he got
drafted for the Vietnam War. I happened
to be there when the guys were talking about
finding a replacement, and one of the guys
said, “Hell, let’s hire Bee. He doesn’t play
worth a crap, but we can teach him what
to play, and he won’t come in with any preconceived
bullshit!” [Laughs.]
You play a stack-knob ’62 Fender Jazz
Bass on studio sessions. What’s the history
of that bass?
It belonged to Johnny Paycheck, who
played it with Ray Price until Willie took over
that gig and bought it off Johnny. I found it
in Willie’s basement one day and asked if he
wanted to sell it. He said, “Yeah—it’ll cost you
two dollars.” I took it, and I still haven’t paid
up! [Laughs.] It’s a real sweetheart.
Who are the bass players who have influenced
you the most?
A lot of my style comes from growing up
playing Mexican nightclubs in Helotis, Texas.
Aside from that, I’d say “Junior” Huskey, Paul
McCartney, Michael Rhodes, and Ray Brown.
After nearly 40 years with Willie, what’s
something you’ve learned about this gig?
Willie is all over the place with his vocal
phrasing, so I’ve learned that if you listen
to him, you’re dead! He’ll take you up a
creek and dump you in a minute. My main
role in the band is to make sure he knows
where the “one” is, so he can come back
to it.
GEAR
Basses Epiphone Vinnie
Hornsby Signature Les
Paul (live), ’62 Fender
Jazz Bass (studio), 1951
Kay upright with a
David Gage Realist pickup
Rig SWR Workingman 4004 head, two
SWR Workingman’s 4x10T cabinets
Strings DR Strings Extra Life PKB-
45 (Hot Pink, .045–.105)
SELECT DISCOGRAPHY
With Willie Nelson (on
Columbia, except where
noted) Shotgun Willie
[Atlantic, 1973], Red
Headed Stranger [1975], Stardust [1978]
Willie and Family Live [1978] Live From
Austin Texas (DVD) [New West, 2006]