A portrait of Willie Nelson by Beacon Falls artist, Jack Lardis, has been placed in the Willie Nelson Museum in Nashville, TN.
It hangs above a hand-carved bench that was a gift to Willie. The room features Willie’s Wall of Gold and Platinum Records and awards, with memorabilia from his country music friends including Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Rogers, Dottie West, Mel Tillis, Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, Ronnie Milsap, and many others.
Also, a replica of his original tour bus, the “Honeysuckle Rose,” is displayed with Willie’s history and collector’s items.
Lardis met Willie in 1993 when he had an advertising agency and his client, Jose Cuervo, sponsored 100 “Willie and Family” concerts over a two-year period.
The campaign required in-person approval by Willie of all creative materials and Lardis came to know him and his daughter, Lana.
He attended more than 25 of Willie’s concerts and began a series of drawings of the country-western icon.
Eventually, Lardis created a large painting of Willie and during the 2009 “Willie Nelson And Family Concert” at the Waterbury Palace Theater, he presented it to Nelson who liked it well enough to sign the back of the painting.
