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Waylon Jennings
Age: 64 (passed away Feb. 13th, 2002)
Height: 6' 0 1/2"
Birth Place: Littlefield, Texas, USA
Born: Jun. 15th, 1937
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Waylon Jennings' Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: Jennings, a singer, songwriter and guitarist, recorded 60 albums and had 16 No. 1 country singles in a career that spanned five decades. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October 2001. With pal Willie Nelson, Jennings performed duets like "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys", "Luckenbach" and "Good Hearted Woman". Those 1970s songs nurtured a progressive sound and restless spirit embraced later by Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels (I), Steve Earle (I) and others. His resonant, authoritative voice also was used to narrate the popular TV show "The Dukes of Hazzard" (1979). He sang its theme song, which was a million seller. "I aimed the narration at children and it made it work," he said in a 1987 AP interview. He traditionally wore a black cowboy hat and ebony attire that accented his black beard and mustache. Often reclusive when not on stage, he played earthy music with a spirited, hard edge. Combined, Jennings had a well-defined image that matched well with his history of battling record producers to do music his way. About his independence, he said: "There's always one more way to do something-- your way." Some of his album titles nourished his brash persona: "Lonesome, On'ry and Mean," "I've Always Been Crazy," "Nashville Rebel," "Ladies Love Outlaws" and "Wanted: The Outlaws." He often refused to attend music awards shows on grounds performers should not compete against each other. Despite those sentiments, Jennings won two Grammy awards and four Country Music Association awards. He did not attend his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame last year. In 1959, his career was nearly cut short by tragedy. He was scheduled to fly on the light plane that crashed and killed Buddy Holly, 'Ritchie Valens' and The Big Bopper. Jennings gave up his seat on the plane to The Big Bopper, who was ill and wanted to fly rather than travel by bus with those left behind. He and Holly were teen-age friends in Lubbock, Texas, and Jennings was in Holly's band. "Mainly what I learned from Buddy was an attitude," Jennings said. "He loved music, and he taught me that it shouldn't have any barriers to it." Born in Littlefield, Texas, Jennings became a radio disc jockey at 14 and formed his own band not long afterward. By the early 1960s Jennings was playing regularly at a nightclub in Phoenix. In 1963, he was signed by 'Herb Alpert''s A&M Records, then was signed by RCA in Nashville shortly thereafter by Chet Atkins. Once in Nashville, he and Cash became friends and roommates. His hit records began in the mid-1960s and his heyday was the mid-1970s. About his outlaw image, he said: "It was a good marketing tool. In a way, I am that way. You start messing with my music, I get mean. As long was you are honest and up front with me, I will be the same with you. But I still do things my way."
TRIVIA:
- In the mid-'80s he joined with 'Willie Nelson' (qv), 'Johnny Cash (I)' (qv) and 'Kris Kristofferson (I)' (qv) to form the quartet The Highwaymen, which recorded together and did concert tours.
- Had have one of his feet amputated due to diabetes in 2002.
- His "Greatest Hits" album in 1979 sold four million copies--a rare accomplishment in country music for that era.
- Is portrayed by his son 'Shooter Jennings' (qv) in _Walk the Line (2005)_ (qv).
- High school dropout who got his GED in 1989.
- He was married and divorced three times before marrying 'Jessi Colter' (qv).
- When he was told by doctors to quit touring, he auctioned off much of his equipment. Less than a year later, though, he was back playing concerts.
- "I'd like to be remembered for my music-- not necessarily by what people see when they see us-- but what they feel when they talk about you," he said in 1984.
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