Willie Nelson's sister makes first album

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- American music icon Willie Nelson's sister has released her first album -- at the age of 76.

Pianist Bobbie Nelson's "Autobiography" features mostly instrumental versions of songs she learned to play while growing up and as she began her career, including "Down Yonder," "Pine Top Boogie," "Stardust" and "Crazy." Willie Nelson sings on two of the album's tracks.

"Recording was not something everybody just did when I was growing up," Nelson said of the long wait for her own album. "It just wasn't as simple and done as often as people do it now.

"But I missed playing some of the old songs I used to play when I was younger. I felt the need to remember and to be able to sit down and play those things. It was just a real nice thing to do."

Bobbie Nelson has been part of her brother's band since 1972, when he took her to New York to help him with the records he was making.