Willie Nile
| Willie Nile | |
|---|---|
Nile performing in 2010
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Noonan |
| Born |
June 7, 1948 Buffalo, New York |
| Origin | Buffalo, New York |
| Genres | Folk, Alternative, Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-Songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Organ, Harmonica |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | WillieNile.com |
Willie Nile (born Robert Noonan on June 7, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter. In 1980, Nile released his self-titled debut album. His early career was interrupted by various problems, but he eventually returned to recording and performing in the US and Europe, establishing himself as a respected singer-songwriter.
Born in Buffalo, New York, to what he called "a gregarious Irish Catholic family", Nile 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 lived in New York City's Greenwich Village while beginning to pursue a music career, but 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 the Greenwich Village club Kenny's Castaways, which led to a record deal with Arista Records. He went into the studio with a band that included Jay Dee Daugherty from the Patti Smith Group. Following his debut album, Willie Nile, he joined The Who's 1980 summer tour. After his second album 1981's Golden Down, Nile became involved with protracted legal problems which curtailed his career for some years.
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 didn't 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.
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