Waylon Jennings

Waylon Arnold Jennings was born June 15, 1937 and raised in Littlefield, Texas. Jennings was one of the artists who helped father the country outlaw movement during 1970´s, refusing to play the popular Nashville sound at the time. At the age of 12 he worked as a DJ on a local radio station and shortly afterward he started his very first band. Two years later he left school to pick cotton for a short time. He moved to Lubbock Texas in 1954 and found work at a radio station where he was introduced to the legendary Buddy Holly who became a close friend and mentor. Holly produced his first single, "Jole Blon" which was released 1958. Waylon started as a bass player in Buddy Holly´s band and he was scheduled to fly on the same plane as Buddy Holly that crashed and lead to the tragic death of Buddy and his band. But Waylon gave up his seat in the last minute to The Big Bopper. After Holly died Waylon spent the next two years mourning over his lost friend and again working as a DJ. He moved to Nashville in 1965. Once there, he moved in with his good friend Johnny Cash, sharing an apartment with him, during some of that artist's toughest periods. During the 70´s Waylon broke away from the popular Nashville sound and helped start the country outlaw movement. His work with Willie Nelson is probably his highest regarded output but many would also add to this his work with female country singer Jessie Colter who also became his wife. His hits include 'Luckenbach, Texas', 'Sally Was A Good Old Girl', 'Are You Sure Hank Done It That Way', 'Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys' and 'Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line'. He has certainly been an extremely important influence on and within country music. Along with others such as George Jones, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Jerry Reed, Tony Joe White, Kris Kristofferson and perhaps also Hank Williams Jr., he helped put to death the lie that Country Music equaled the poppy candifloss coming out of places like Nashville. At least to those of us who would listen and/or who didn't have completely closed minds, many of us feel we owe him and the others like him the spur that launched country rock and which finally led to the formation of the highly successful band, The Eagles. Waylon Jennings' influence can also still be heard in New Country today. During the 80´s he helped found a country "super group", The Highwaymen with friends Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson. However, he is probably best known for authoring the theme to the TV classic The Dukes of Hazzard. Waylon passed away February 13, 2002 from complications due to diabetes. He left behind a son, Shooter Jennings, who is a rising star in his own right, playing traditional country outside the Nashville sound, just like his father.