The songs just pour out of Willie Nelson!

So effortlessly, so simply and yet so wonderfully. He is relaxed and he radiates love and respect for his audience. The crowd adores him, mirrors his feelings and the atmosphere is charged.

The time: Thursday, Sept. 23, 1999.

The Place: Westbury Music Fair.

The Event: A Willie Nelson Concert.

The Crowd: Willie's fans come in all varieties and shapes. The Dolly Parton look-alikes; the black-hatted, tattooed, bearded bikers; the white-haired grandmas; the pot-bellied grandpas who jump out of their chairs to sing and clap; and the youngsters who have just recently discovered an original country-western star. Long Island is a hot bed of country and western music even though almost all of the radio stations have been closed down.

With his hair at waist level, under a red bandana, and with guitar in hand, Willie stepped on stage. Pandemonium, bedlam, cheers of "We love you, Willie" broke loose as he opened with Whiskey River. This was followed quickly by Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain and Blue Skies.

Mr. Nelson does not talk much when he is in concert. Song follows song and the chatter is almost nonexistent. He waves to the fans between picks on his guitar and every now and again he tosses a red bandana souvenir to the crowd.

He is accompanied by a band of six musicians - one singer, three guitarists, one drummer, one honky-tonk piano player (his sister), and one sensational harmonica player (who looked like Gabe Kaplan).

The twanging of the guitars, the beat of the instruments and the nasal resonance of Willie Nelson were overpowering.

Changing pace, he crooned Georgia on My Mind, All of Me and Stardust.

Willie is a talented musician and songwriter. His guitar solos have a classical quality. Born in Abbott, Texas in 1933, he was a performer at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry in 1964.

When he broke into Me and Bobby McGee the fans erupted with stomping of feet and clapping of hands. He then slowed the pace with My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys and Angels Flying Close to the Ground. These are his hit recordings.

Mr. Nelson believes in ebb and flow. Show ballads followed by On the Road Again caused another wild outburst from the audience. You Were Always on My Mind then soothed the rampaging crowd.

Religious songs were not left out. Will The Circle Be Unbroken and Amazing Grace followed. During Amazing Grace, the audience joined the singing and the piano player and harmonicist did solos that were extraordinarily touching.

Hank Williams' My Bucket's Got a Hole in It and Jambalaya also were on the program.

Willie is a Texan and he got into the Southwest flavor with Seven Spanish Angels, Lukenback, Texas and City of New Orleans. It was two hours and 30 minutes of pure Willie. Nelson was a sheer delight for me and the crowd at the Music Fair. There was no tension in the air as Willie Nelson handled everything with such a relaxed and confident manner.

As I write this column, I can still hear the twang of the guitars and the twang in Willie's voice. It's wonderful!