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Waylon Jennings
1937-2002
Born on June 15,1937,in Littlefield,Texas. He grew up a child of hard West Texas poverty. As a youngster Waylon learned guitar from his mother and by age 12 he had formed his own band. After years of picking cotten,he moved to Lubbock and met Buddy Holly. Waylon played in Holly's band from 1958-1959.Holly produced Waylon's first record and used him as a bass player.It was Waylon who gave up his seat to the Big Bopper on the plane that would crash,killing Holly and Richie Valens as well. Waylon was greatly affected by Buddy's death.He moved to Phoenix and released some records and gained a following,headlining at a club JD's. Bobby Bare helped Waylon get signed by Chet Atkins at RCA.By 1965 Waylon had moved to Nashville and wound up rooming with Johnny Cash. A relationship that helped earn his reputation as a hell raiser and a formed a friendship that would last 35 years.Waylon earned chart success with songs like his Top-3 hit"Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line" But he was growing unhappy with the Nashville bureaucracy and thought about quitting the music business.Instead Waylon fueled a rebellion that changed Nashville and the entire course of country music and the Outlaw movement was born. By 1972 Waylon had done the impossible.He retained complete control of his music. Waylon began to use his band in the studio instead of Nashville studio musicians. He also began a partnership with Willie Nelson. That year thier first Top-10 collaborative effort "Good Hearted Woman" was released From 1977 through 1983 Waylon simply could do no wrong and his records simply bore the name "Waylon"In the mid-1980's he joined with Nelson, Cash, and Kris Kristofferson to form the "Highwaymen,which recorded and did concert tours.Waylon spent 21 years on drugs and had a $1,500-a-day cocaine habit. He kicked the habit in 1984.Waylon was married 4 times.He married Jess Colter in 1969 and they had one son Shooter . Waylon had seven children from his marriages.After years of hard living,Waylon's health began to decline. On Feb 13,2002 Waylon Jennings died peacefully in his sleep at his Arizona home after a long battle with diabetes related health problems. He was 64.
Waylon Jennings was quietly laid to rest on Friday,Feb. 15,2002 at a very private graveside service near his home in Arizona. Waylon was buried in the Mesa City Cemetery. Mesa Arizona.
Discography
Waylon Jennings at JD's December 1964 Folk Country 1966 Leavin' Town 1966 Nashville Rebel (Soundtrack) 1966 Waylon Sings Ol' Harlan 1967 Love of the Common People 1967The One And Only 1967 Hangin' On February 1968 Only The Greatest 1968 Jewels 1968 Just To Satisfy You 1969 Country Folk Don't Think Twice 1970The Best of Waylon Jennings 1970 Ned Kelly (Soundtrack) 1970 Singer of Sad Songs 1970 The Taker/Tulsa 1971 Cedartown, Georgia August 1971 Good Hearted Woman 1972 Heartaches by the Numbers 1972 Ladies Love Outlaws 1971 Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town 1973 Lonesome, On'ry and Mean 1973 Honky Tonk Heroes 1973 Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line 1974 This Time 1974 The Ramblin' Man 1974Wanted: The Outlaws 1976 Mackintosh and T J (Soundtrack) 1976 Are You Read For The Country 1976 The Dark Side of Fame Is a re-release of The One and Only Waylon Live 1976Ol' Waylon April 1977 Waylon and Willie 1978White Mansions 1978 I've Always Been Crazy 1978 Greatest Hits 1979 What Goes Around Comes Around 1979 Music Man 1980 Leather and Lace (With Jessi Colter) 1982Black on Black 1982 WW II (With Willie Nelson) 1982 It's Only Rock and Roll 1983 Take It To The Limit (with Willie Nelson) 1983 Waylon and Company 1983 Never Could Toe the Mark 1983Waylon's Greatest Hits, Volume 2 October 1984Highwayman(With Cash, Kristofferson,& Nelson) 1985The Collector's Series - Waylon Jennings 1985Turn the Page 1985 Sweet Mother Texas 1986 The Best Of Waylon September 1986 Will The Wolf Survive March 1986 Heroes (With Johnny Cash) 1986 Hangin' Tough1987 A Man Called Hoss 1987 Full Circle 1988 The Early Years 1989 New Classic Waylon 1989 Highwayman 2 (With Cash, Willie & Kristofferson) 1990The Eagle July 1990Clean Shirt (with Willie Nelson) 1991Too Dumb For New York City Too Ugly For L.A. 1992Cowboys, Sisters, Rascals, & Dirt 1993 Waylon Jennings - The RCA Years - Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line 1993 Waymore's Blues (Part II) 1994 Highwaymen - The Road Goes On Forever 1995 Right For The Time May 1996Closing In On The Fire 1998Never Say Die-Live 2000