Willie Nile

Born in Buffalo, New York,{{cite web|url=http://www.willienile.com/bio/index|title=Biodata|publisher=Willie Nile official website|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=May 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512104428/http://willienile.com/bio/index|url-status=live}} into what he called "a gregarious Irish Catholic family".{{cite news|url=http://www.theaquarian.com/2012/01/06/interview-with-willie-nile-channeling-woody-guthrie-through-joey-ramone|title=Interview with Willie Nile: Channeling Woody Guthrie Through Joey Ramone|first=John|last=Pfeiffer|date=January 6, 2012|work=The Aquarian|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=March 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302042603/http://www.theaquarian.com/2012/01/06/interview-with-willie-nile-channeling-woody-guthrie-through-joey-ramone|url-status=live}} He grew up with two older brothers who played piano, and a mother who "used to always have music in the house. Whether it was classical or big band or popular hits of the times, something was always playing." His grandfather ran an orchestra in Buffalo and was a vaudeville pianist who played with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Eddie Cantor.

Nile studied philosophy at the University at Buffalo and lived in Greenwich Village while beginning his music career. He contracted pneumonia and wrote songs while he spent a year recuperating. Afterward, he began frequenting such clubs as CBGB, where he saw performers including Patti Smith, Television, the Ramones, and Talking Heads.

Nile established residency at Kenny's Castaways, a Greenwich Village club, where he was discovered by New York Times music critic Robert Palmer who described Nile as "the most gifted songwriter to emerge from the New York folk scene in some while".{{cite news|last1=Palmer |first1=Robert |title=Willie Nile Sings Rock and Folk |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 29, 1978 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/07/29/archives/willie-nile-sings-rock-and-folk.html |access-date=August 18, 2018}} This led to a meeting with Clive Davis and a record deal with Arista Records.{{cite news|title=Willie Nile recently played an unannounced midnight set at Kenny's Castaways, the Greenwich Village club where he was discovered by Arista's Clive Davis.|magazine=Stereo Review|date=January 1981}} He went into the studio with a band that included Jay Dee Daugherty from the Patti Smith Group and Fred Smith from Television. He was described by Stephen Holden of the New York Times as a "live wire" in concerts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/22/arts/willie-nile-sings-his-tales.html|title=Willie Nile Sings His Tales|last=Holden |first=Stephen |newspaper=The New York Times |date=1981 |access-date=August 15, 2018}}

Following the release of his debut album, Willie Nile, he joined The Who's 1980 summer tour.{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TyQEAAAAMBAJ&q=billboard%2C+the+who%2Fwillie+nile+-+stone+city&pg=PT31|title=Arenas (6,000 to 20,000), page 32 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Billboard Magazine |date=July 1, 1980|access-date=August 14, 2018}}{{cite news|title=Willie Nile: busting out of Bleecker Street|last=Palmer|first=Robert|magazine=Rolling Stone|issue=324|page=20|date=August 21, 1980}}{{cite web |last1=Parker |first1=Thomas M. |title=Memphis, TN, Mid-South Coliseum The Who, Thursday, 10. July 1980 |url=http://www.thewholive.net/concert/index.php?id=97 |website=The Who Concert Guide |publisher=Bob Smoochie Productions |access-date=June 5, 2020}}

After his second album 1981's Golden Down, Nile became involved with protracted legal problems which curtailed his career for a number of years.{{cite web|url=http://rockmusicstar.com/willienile2016|title=Interview – Willie Nile|last=Orwat Jr.|first=Thomas S.|date=March 14, 2016|website=rockmusicstar.com|publisher=Rock Music Star|access-date=April 3, 2017|quote=But, soon after his 1981 album, 'Golden Down,' Nile's career was put on hold, due to music business legal issues that derailed his career for a decade.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404045659/http://rockmusicstar.com/willienile2016/|archive-date=April 4, 2017}}

Although he continued to write, Nile did not perform live or record again until a 1987 performance in Oslo, Norway, with Eric Andersen. A videotape of Nile's performance in Norway prompted a Columbia talent scout to sign him to the label in 1988. For reasons that are unclear, production on his album did not start for two more years. It was another significant delay in the troubadour's career. Issued in 1991, his Columbia Records CD, Places I Have Never Been, contained the songs "Everybody Needs A Hammer" and "Heaven Help The Lonely". Places I Have Never Been featured appearances by backing musicians including Richard Thompson, Loudon Wainwright III, Roger McGuinn, and members of The Hooters and The Roches. On June 11, 1991, Nile was the guest musician on the Late Night with David Letterman show.

Nile has recorded and performed with several musicians, including Ringo Starr, Tori Amos, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Ian Hunter, and Barenaked Ladies. A live Central Park concert album, Willie Nile-Archive Alive, was released on Archive Recordings, and Nile was one of the vocalists on the 1998 ensemble album Largo, along with Joan Osborne, Cyndi Lauper, Levon Helm, The Chieftains, Taj Mahal and Carole King. Another project found Nile writing and performing most of the songs for the soundtrack to the Kevin McLaughlin film Pinch Me!.[http://www.pinchme-themovie.com/sound.htm Pinch Me! movie website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715083842/http://www.pinchme-themovie.com/sound.htm |date=July 15, 2011}}, Pinchme-themovie.com; accessed June 20, 2017.

Gathering together his resources over time, he put out his first self-released album, Beautiful Wreck of the World, in 1999. It was chosen as one of the Top Ten Albums of the Year by critics at Billboard magazine, The Village Voice and Stereo Review.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

Lucinda Williams called "On the Road to Calvary", Nile's song for Jeff Buckley, "One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard". The album reached the finals of the Independent Music Awards for Best Rock Album of the Year.{{cite web |last1=Jarman |first1=David |title=Classic Americana Albums: Willie Nile "Streets of New York" |url=https://americana-uk.com/classic-americana-albums-willie-nile-streets-of-new-york |website=Americana-uk.com |date=August 24, 2022 |access-date=25 August 2022}}

File:WillieinBuffalo.JPG

In late 2003, Nile was invited to share the stage at three concerts with the E Street Band, including the two final Giants Stadium shows as well as the two last shows of that particular tour at Shea Stadium.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pointblankmag.com/toursummer2003.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510214554/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/2013/12th-annual-independent-music-awards-winners-announced/|url-status=dead|title=Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Tour 2003 Set List|archive-date=May 10, 2014}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/billboard-bits-dylanspringsteen-wallflowers-uso-68772/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921144703/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/68772/billboard-bits-dylanspringsteen-wallflowers-uso|url-status=dead|title=Billboard Bits: Dylan/Springsteen, Wallflowers, USO|magazine=Billboard |date=October 6, 2003|archive-date=September 21, 2014}}

In 2006, Nile released Streets of New York to good reviews. Former Time magazine music critic, and Academy Award-winning screenwriter, Jay Cocks writes of Streets of New York, "The tunes he writes and plays with such blowtorch vibrancy get the myth and magic and danger and sadness and love in this town—of this town—truer, and righter, than anything I've heard since Dion. This record is a head-twister and heart-wrencher. It's rock and roll at its best. It's New York at its best. And there's nothing better than that."{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

House of a Thousand Guitars was released to positive reviews on April 14, 2009.

On November 22, 2009, Nile joined the E Street Band for the cover of Jackie Wilson's "Higher and Higher".{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/springsteen/index.ssf/2009/11/bruce_springsteen_plays_the_fi.html|title=Bruce Springsteen plays the final show of his 2009 tour in Buffalo on Sunday night|last=Goldstein|first=Stan|work=NJ.com|date=November 23, 2009 |access-date=December 16, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126013451/http://www.nj.com/springsteen/index.ssf/2009/11/bruce_springsteen_plays_the_fi.html|archive-date=November 26, 2009}}

On April 23, 2013, at a ceremony in Leeds, England, Nile was named Legacy Ambassador for the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tbhef.org/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108113937/http://www.tbhef.org/?features=willie-nile-named-legacy-ambassador-for-the-buddy-holly-educational-foundation|url-status=dead|title=The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation|archive-date=January 8, 2015}}

On June 25, 2013, Nile released his eighth studio album, American Ride through Loud & Proud Records.[http://www.conqueroo.com/willienile.html Carey Baker's Conqueroo] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719054216/http://www.conqueroo.com/willienile.html |date=July 19, 2013}} Nile originally had planned on self-distributing through money raised on PledgeMusic.com. The decision to sign onto a record label occurred after he was approached by Tom Lipsky, president of Loud & Proud Records.{{cite web |url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/willie-nile-takes-rock-on-an-american-ride/article/2531362 |title=Willie Nile takes rock on an 'American Ride' |date=June 6, 2013 |access-date=August 4, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510214554/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/2013/12th-annual-independent-music-awards-winners-announced/ |archive-date=May 10, 2014 }} The New Yorker said "One of the most brilliant (and most confounding) singer-songwriters of the last thirty years... he reappeared this year with "American Ride", another stellar album of tough, insightful rock and roll.{{cite web |title=Night Life Rock and Pop Willie Nile |url=https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/night-life/willie-nile |website=Newyorker.com|access-date=23 July 2023}}

On November 11, 2014, Nile released If I Was a River, a 10-track all piano album, composed by Nile with assistance from his long-time collaborator Frankie Lee.{{cite news|title=Willie Nile to Release Album of Piano-Based songs Nov 11|author=Harr, Dan|newspaper=Music News Nashville|date=November 6, 2014|url=http://www.musicnewsnashville.com/willie-nile-to-release-album-of-piano-based-songs-nov-11/|access-date=November 9, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110073301/http://www.musicnewsnashville.com/willie-nile-to-release-album-of-piano-based-songs-nov-11/|archive-date=November 10, 2014}}

At a surprise appearance at the 2015 Light of Day Benefit in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen joined Nile on stage to perform Nile's "One Guitar".{{cite web|last=Angermiller|first=Michele Amabile|title=Watch Bruce Springsteen Perform at Light of Day 2015 Benefit in New Jersey|publisher=Billboard|date=January 18, 2015|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6443653/watch-bruce-springsteen-perform-at-light-of-day-2015-benefit-in-new-jersey|access-date=January 20, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121034501/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6443653/watch-bruce-springsteen-perform-at-light-of-day-2015-benefit-in-new-jersey|archive-date=January 21, 2015}}{{cite web|last=Volpe|first=Allie|title=Bruce Springsteen Plays Surprise Concert in Asbury Park|publisher=philly.com|date=January 19, 2015|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/music_nightlife/Bruce-Springsteen-plays-surprise-concert-in-Asbury-Park.html|access-date=January 21, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510214554/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/2013/12th-annual-independent-music-awards-winners-announced/|archive-date=May 10, 2014}}{{cite web|last=Skelly|first=Richard|title=Light of Day Memories|publisher=Asbury Park Press|date=January 23, 2015|url=http://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/01/23/light-day-memories/22154709|access-date=January 27, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510214554/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/2013/12th-annual-independent-music-awards-winners-announced/|archive-date=May 10, 2014}} On May 28, 2015, at the Best Buy Theatre in New York City, Nile joined Springsteen, Joan Jett, Roger Daltrey and Billy Idol at the 11th annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert to honor Pete Townshend, for his commitment to helping other musicians with addictions.{{Cite web|url=http://radio.com/2015/05/29/bruce-springsteen-joan-jett-roger-daltrey-pay-tribute-to-pete-townshend-at-musicares-event/|publisher=radio.com|title=Bruce Springsteen, Joan Jett, Roger Daltrey Pay Tribute to Pete Townshend at MusiCares Event|date=May 29, 2015|last=Ives|first=Brian|access-date=May 30, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510214554/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/2013/12th-annual-independent-music-awards-winners-announced/|archive-date=May 10, 2014}}

On July 27, 2018, Nile released the album Children of Paradise. The album was well received and given excellent reviews. Associated Press' Kiley Armstrong says it is "his best album to date".{{cite web|last=Armstrong |first=Kiley |date=July 26, 2018 |title=Review: Willie Nile delivers depth, danceable defiance |url=https://apnews.com/90015e78963e47f68a726cdf2c75e616 |website=Associated Press |language=en |access-date=July 28, 2018}}

In a July 2018 review of the album Audiophilie says "Willie Nile has a lot to say and clearly some great songs in his back pocket. You just need to listen. If you have even a bit of conscience remaining, you should listen to Willie's albums of the last 10 years or so. You might just get inspired by his 21st century renaissance".{{Cite web|date= July 9, 2018|title=Review of Willie NIle's New Children of Paradise Album, Tidal|url=https://audiophilereview.com/audiophile-music/post-7.html|website=Audiophilereview.com|language=en |access-date=August 9, 2018}}

On March 15, 2020, Nile released his 13th studio album, New York at Night. Nile described it as "throwing another log on the fire", defining his passion for his music.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} Along with the title track, the album included the previously released "Run Free", "New York is Rockin'" which he co-wrote with Curtis Stigers for Stigers' 1995 album Time Was, "Surrender the Moon", a song he started with his brother John, who died years ago, and reflections on love; "A Little Bit of Love", "The Last Time We Made Love", and "Downtown Girl".{{cite web|url=https://glidemagazine.com/240741/willie-nile-announces-new-lp-new-york-at-night/|title=Willie Nile Announces New LP "New York at Night"|date=March 2, 2020|website=Glidemagazine.com|publisher=Glide Magazine|access-date=March 14, 2020}} American Songwriter magazine rated the album 3½ of 5 stars and said that Nile belongs in a class of New York songwriters with Dion. Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Garland Jeffreys, The Ramones, New York Dolls and others.{{cite web|first=Hal|last=Horowitz|url=https://americansongwriter.com/willie-nile-new-york-at-night-album-review/|title=Willie Nile Takes A(nother) Rockin' Bite Out of The Big Apple|website=Americansongwriter.com|date=May 14, 2020|access-date=May 16, 2020}} Giving the album an 88/100 rating, Elmore Magazine says "Jersey has Bruce Springsteen, but New York has Willie Nile".{{cite web|url=http://www.elmoremagazine.com/2020/05/reviews/albums/willie-nile-6|title=Album Reviews: Willie Nile – New York at Night|publisher= Elmore Magazine|location=New York City|website=elmoremagazine.com|date=May 6, 2020|access-date=May 17, 2020}}

In 2022, Nile's 2006 album Streets of New York was chosen "Classic American Album" by David Jarman of Americana-UK.

Nile embarked on a Caribbean cruise in December of 2024, known as "The Willie Nile Caribbean Adventure." This event featured meet and greets, Q&A's, and two private concerts with Nile and his band. This trip led privileged guests on a quest through Orlando, Mexico and The Bahamas. Nile took to social media platforms, among Instagram and Facebook, expressing his immense joy at the success of the cruise.

;Current

• Jimi K. Bones – guitar
• Johnny Pisano – electric and upright bass, backing vocals
• Jon Weber – drums

;Former

• Brad Albetta – electric & acoustic Bass
• Matt Hogan – lead guitar
• Ali Wilson – drums (UK shows only)
• Alex Alexander – drums, percussion
• Clay Barnes – guitars
• Jay Dee Daugherty – drums and percussion
• Peter Hoffman – guitars
• Rich Pagano – drums, percussion, background vocals
• Fred Smith – bass
• Andy York – lead guitar, background vocals
• John Honan - Bass
• Erick Apen - Lead guitar, background vocals
• Tom Noonan - Background vocals, Guitar

• 1980 Sterio Review Magazine - Willie Nile - Record of the Year{{cite news|title=Record of the Year Awards for 1980|author=Goodfriend, James|magazine=Stereo Review|date=February 1981}}
• 2005 Nile was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=https://bmhof.org/inductees-n/willie-nile.html|title=Willie Nile's entry at Buffalo Music Hall of Fame|website=Bmhof.org}}
• 2013 Winner - AIM Independent Music Awards: "One Guitar" – Best Social Action Song{{cite web|url=https://independentmusicawards.com/artist/past-ima-programs/|title=Past IMA Programs|website=Independentmusicawards.com|access-date=September 25, 2020}}
• 2013 Nominee - AIM Independent Music Awards: "The Innocent Ones" - Best Album Rock/Hard Rock
• 2014 Nominee - AIM Independent Music Awards: "American Ride" - Best Album Rock/Hard Rock
• 2018 Nominee - AIM Independent Music Awards: "Earth Blues" - Best Social Action Short Form Music Video

{{Reflist}}

• [http://willienile.com Willie Nile Official Website]
• {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5031|label=Willie Nile}}
• {{MusicBrainz artist|40fb02de-afc3-441c-a6ec-21fee861d478}}
• {{Discogs artist}}
• {{IMDb name|id=1770703|name=Willie Nile}}
• {{cite web|url=https://madisonhouseinc.com/willie-nile/|title=Willie Nile|publisher=@ Madison House Agency}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.conqueroo.com/willienile.html|title=Willie Nile|publisher=@ Congaroo}}

{{Willie Nile|state=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nile, Willie}}

Category:1948 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century American male musicians

Category:20th-century American pianists

Category:21st-century American male musicians

Category:21st-century American pianists

Category:American alternative rock musicians

Category:American male pianists

Category:American male singer-songwriters

Category:American people of Irish descent

Category:American rock pianists

Category:American rock singers

Category:American rock songwriters

Category:Arista Records artists

Category:Columbia Records artists

Category:Musicians from Buffalo, New York

Category:Musicians from Manhattan

Category:People from Greenwich Village

Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)

Category:University at Buffalo alumni