Waylon Jennings
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Biography: A respected and influential American Country Music singer and guitarist, Waylon Jennings grew up in abject poverty in Littlefield, Texas. He learned to play guitar at the tender age of eight and became a DJ for a local Texas radio station at twelve. After moving to Lubbock, Texas in 1954, he got a job at radio station KLLL where he befriended Buddy Holly during a radio show. |
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Waylon soon became a protégé of Buddy, learning guitar licks and collaborating on songs with Holly. On February 3rd, 1959, Waylon acted as the temporary bass player for Buddy Holly and the Crickets during the Winter Dance Party tour. He was scheduled to fly on the ill-fated flight that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. He gave up his seat at the last minute to a sick Big Bopper. The death of his mentor created a sense of guilt that remained with him to his dying day. Although his first attempts at establishing himself as a successful country recording artist seemed promising, his addiction to amphetamines deteriorated not only his star power, but also his finances and his various attempts at matrimonial bliss. In 1972, Waylon came close to death while battling a severe case of hepatitis. At this time he seriously considered retiring from music all together. In 1972 both Waylon’s business manager and artist Willie Nelson worked together to get Jennings off his feet and behind the microphone. In releasing “Ladies Love Outlaws”, his first RCA release, the title track started the “outlaw country” movement – a musical opposition to the “Nashville Sound” in which singers grew their hair long, wore denim and leather and looked like hippies as opposed to the clean cut country singers from Nashville. Waylon Jennings later released “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean” and “Honky Tonk Heroes” in 1973 to much commercial success. In 1974 he released “The Ramblin’ Man” and “This Time” and “Dreaming My Dreams” in 1975. His drug addiction, however, moved towards cocaine and his health slowly deteriorated. He did, however, release career-defining collaborations with Willie Nelson on the album “Wanted: The Outlaws!” – country music's first platinum record. With later hits such as “Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” and “I’ve Always Been Crazy”, Waylon was finally known as an established and successful country recording artist. When Jennings finally made the decision to clean up, he underwent detox and although his later life was plagued with health problems, he remained drug-free and continued recording and touring throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. Jennings was also known as the voice of the Narrator on the television series “The Dukes of Hazzard”. In the mid-1980’s, Waylon collaborated with Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson and formed The Highwaymen – a successful supergroup. In 1998, Jennings joined another supergroup named “Old Dogs” with Bobby Bare, Jerry Reed and Mel Tillis. In February 2002, Waylon Jennings passed away due to complications from diabetes in Arizona. Visit the Waylon Jennings Official Website at www.waylon.com QUOTES: “Holly became Waylon's mentor, teaching him guitar licks, collaborating on songs, and producing Jennings' first single, "Jole Blon," which was released on Brunswick in 1958.” “’If anything I’ve ever done is remembered,’ Waylon Jennings told CMT.com in 1999, “part of it is because of Buddy Holly.’” “Buddy Holly was the first to recognize Waylon’s talents producing his first recording. When Waylon wanted to be a involved with rock & roll Buddy told him: “No, not rock & roll...you’re country”. After convincing him that “time would prove him to be right”...they recorded “Jole Blon” at Norman Petty Studios in 1958. Waylon learned from Buddy Holly “Never compromise concerning your music...do what you feel.” Buddy helped Waylon, who played guitar, obtain an electric bass becoming a member of The Crickets for the ill-fated “Winter Dance Party” tour 1959.” Return to Artists Influenced by Buddy Holly Purchase an Album from this Artist |
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