Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson has earned the status of legend, but that museum tag is way too somber for a guy who still puts on such a thrilling live show. His trademark vocal phrasing wrings every drop of emotion out of a song without resorting to cheap stunts, and his crack Family Band swings from raucous to refined with the flawless intuition of a truly empathetic unit. Even at this late date, he’s still adventuring; his recent reggae album Countryman is far better than it has any right to be, and on this summer’s tour with Bob Dylan, he debuted a new tune called “Superman” that rocks as convincingly as any Bloodshot Records foam-cap tyros. Well past 70 now, he won’t be around forever — don’t miss him while he’s still here.