Jennings, Waylon, 1937-2002

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An American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He is considered one of pioneers of the outlaw movement in country music.

Jennings started playing guitar at the age of eight and performed at age fourteen on KVOW radio, after which he formed his first band, the Texas Longhorns. Jennings left high school at age sixteen, determined to become a musician, and worked as a performer and DJ on KVOW, KDAV, KYTI, KLLL, in Coolidge, Arizona, and Phoenix. In 1958, Buddy Holly arranged Jennings' first recording session, a cover of Jole Blon, and hired him to play bass. Jennings gave up his seat on the ill-fated flight in 1959 that crashed and killed Holly, J. P. "the Big Bopper" Richardson and Ritchie Valens.

Jennings then returned back to Texas taking several years off from music before eventually moving to Arizona and forming a rockabilly club band, the Waylors, which became the house band at "JD's", a club in Tempe, Arizona. He recorded for independent label Trend Records and A&M Records, but did not achieve success until moving to RCA Victor in 1965, in 1972 he acquired Neil Reshen as his manager, who negotiated significantly better touring and recording contracts. After he gained creative control from RCA Records, he released the critically acclaimed albums Lonesome, On'ry and Mean and Honky Tonk Heroes, followed by the hit albums Dreaming My Dreams and Are You Ready for the Country.

During the 1970s, Jennings drove outlaw country. With Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Jessi Colter he recorded country music's first platinum album, Wanted! The Outlaws. It was followed by another platinum album, a first for any solo artist in country music, Ol' Waylon and the hit song "Luckenbach, Texas". He was featured on the 1978 album White Mansions, performed by various artists documenting the lives of Confederates during the Civil War. He appeared in films and television series, including Sesame Street, and a stint as the balladeer for The Dukes of Hazzard, composing and singing the show's theme song and providing narration for the show. Jennings struggled with cocaine addiction, which he overcame in 1984. Later, he joined the country supergroup the Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash, which released three albums between 1985 and 1995. During that period, Jennings released the successful album Will the Wolf Survive. Jennings has also been named as one of the innovators of progressive country.

Jennings toured less after 1997 to spend more time with his family. Between 1999 and 2001, his appearances were limited by health problems. In 2001, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was posthumously awarded the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award by the Academy of Country Music.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Miller, Townsend, 1919-1989. Miller, Townsend, collection, 1952-1983 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Miller, Townsend, collection 91-088; 98-081., 1952-1983 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Biography -- Jennings, Waylon. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Southern Folklife Collection artist name files, 1940-2005 (artists D-K). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Southern Folklife Collection radio and television files, 1930-2005. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Southern Folklife Collection Artist Name File, 1940-2005 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn Eugene Earle Collection, 1939-1980s University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn Webster and Harris Advertising Agency (Lubbock, Tex.). Records, 1957-1982. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Milosevich, Paul, 1936-. Papers, 1974-1980. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn KOHM-FM Collection, U 165. 2., 2002-2003 Southwest Collection/Special Collections Libary, Texas Tech University
referencedIn Stephen T. Gudis Collection Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University
referencedIn Center for Popular Music Vertical Files Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Cash, Johnny, 1932-2003 person
spouseOf Colter, Jessi. person
memberOf Country Music Hall of Fame corporateBody
associatedWith Earle, Eugene. person
associatedWith Holly, Buddy, 1936-1959 person
associatedWith KOHM-FM (Radio station : Lubbock, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Kristofferson, Kris person
associatedWith Miller, Townsend, 1919-1989. person
associatedWith Milosevich, Paul, 1936- person
associatedWith Nelson, Willie, 1933- person
associatedWith Webster and Harris Advertising Agency (Lubbock, Tex.) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Littlefield TX US
Chandler AZ US
Nashville TN US
Subject
Occupation
Singers
Bass guitarists
Guitarists
Activity

Person

Birth 1937-06-15

Death 2002-02-13

Male

Americans

English

Information

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