Waylon Jennings
From ArticleWorld
'Waylon Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitar player who was influential in the outlaw country music movement.
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The Early Years
Jennings was born on June 15, 1937, in Littlefield, Texas. He grew up poor in the days of the Dust Bowl, and looked to escape the dirt fields and roads of Littlefield all his life. He began singing at a young age and soon became a popular Texas DJ. He became a popular musician in Texas and played with legends and fellow Texans Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly.
Holly & Jennings
Buddy Holly was a mentor of sorts to Jennings and offered to produce his first records. Jennings joined Holly’s band as the bassist and set off on a nationwide tour. In February, 1959, also known as ‘The day that music died,’ a plane crash killed Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson, and Ritchie Valens. Jennings had given up his seat for Richardson; Holly told him he hoped the tour bus would break down, and Jennings jokingly replied he hoped their plane would crash. He later expressed the guilt and responsibility he felt for the crash and their death.
Music Career
Jennings soon began performing on his own and developed his own unique style. Chet Atkins signed Jennings to RCA Records and he went straight to Nashville. Nashville, however, wasn’t a fan of his ways and style. He usually recorded and performed with his own band and his music was criticized at not being "sweet" enough. It was at this frustrating time in his career that Jennings’ drug addiction began; he began taking amphetamines while on tour. He nearly died from hepatitis in 1972 and considered retiring.
Willie & Waylon: Outlaws
Jennings career looked to be about over until his old friend Willie Nelson stepped into the picture. They were picked up by the same manager as well as RCA Records. In 1972, he released Ladies Love Outlaws, which is considered as the first songs of outlaw country. He went on to release more successful albums like Dreaming My Dreams, This Time, and Ramblin’ Man.
In 1976, Jennings began his long recording and career-defining stint with Willie Nelson. They produced the first country platinum record: ‘’Wanted: The Outlaws’’. They then produced ‘’Waylon and Willie’ in 1978 with the signature "Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys," and the hit single "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love."
The Outlaw Falls
Jennings switched from amphetamine use to cocaine during the 1970’s and consumed hundreds and thousands of dollars worth every day. By the early part of the 1980’s he was hollow eyed and frail from his out of hand drug addiction and bankrupt from mismanagement of funds. He was arrested for possession of cocaine in 1977 (charges were dropped) and decided it was time to clean up his act. He went through a detox program, claiming his son, Shooter Jennings, was his motivation to stay drug free. Later in life he had many health problems, including a heart attack and diabetes. He had to have a foot amputated due to the disease in 2001 and ended up dying from it on February 13, 2002.