Willie Nelson's legacy truly transcends time – and so does his style, apparently!
The country music legend, now 93, impressed fans on social media with his latest post, a collection of album covers from his records in the 1960s.
The photos not only captured the deep breadth of his work, but also his much younger and more suave look, consisting of slick brown locks and a clean-cut style, as opposed to his now-signature beard, braids and bandana.
"The records of the '60s," he captioned his post, with fans celebrating his decades of music-making in the comments.
"My goal this year has been to listen to all of Willie's discography…I'm about halfway through but there's something special about these early songs that I can't help but love," one gushed, with another adding: "Thank you for never stopping Willie!" and a third saying: "Good times, one of the best of yours Willie!"
Willie debuted as a singer-songwriter in the 1950s, although he'd started composing music as a young boy. By the 1960s, he was considered one of the pioneers of the outlaw country subgenre.
However, his commercial success dipped considerably by the 1970s, so much so that Willie decided to hang up his guitar and call it quits. In 1972, Willie decided to "retire" from recording music. He bought out his label contract and moved to Austin.
© Getty ImagesThe new city and change of pace gave him a renewed perspective on his career, though, and he began playing local shows that eventually became his long-running Fourth of July Picnic. His retirement was short-lived, as he returned to the recording studio a year later.
His 1973 LP Shotgun Willie received critical acclaim, and his 1975 album Red Headed Stranger became his first crossover top 40 hit, solidifying his place in the mainstream and now considered his masterpiece.
While Willie has been releasing music for over six decades, his debut album coming out in 1962, he's shared multiple times that he doesn't intend to retire anytime soon. The only thing that would cause him to call time on his career? His beloved guitar, Trigger.
© Getty ImagesThe musical legend has previously spoken about just how much Trigger means to him, and penned in his book The Tao of Willie: A Guide to Happiness in Your Heart: "One of the secrets to my sound is almost beyond explanation."
"My battered old Martin guitar, Trigger, has the greatest tone I've ever heard from a guitar… If I picked up the finest guitar made this year and tried to play my solos exactly the way you heard them on the radio or even at last night's show, I'd always be a copy of myself and we'd all end up bored."
© Getty Images"But if I play an instrument that is now a part of me, and do it according to the way that feels right for me… I'll always be an original," he added, even stating that he'd "quit" without Trigger.
