Biography for
Waylon Jennings More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

15 June 1937, Littlefield, Texas, USA

Date of Death

13 February 2002, Chandler, Arizona, USA (diabetes-related illness)

Birth Name

Waylon Arnold Jennings

Nickname

Hoss

Height

6' 0½" (1.84 m)

Mini 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, Steve Earle 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."

IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous

Spouse

Jessi Colter	(26 October 1969 - 13 February 2002) (his death) 1 child
Lynne Jones	(10 December 1962 - 1967)
Maxine Lawrence	(1956 - ?) (divorced) 3 children
Barbara Rood	(? - ?) (divorced)

Trivia

Was briefly a member of Buddy Holly's band as the bass player.

He was married and divorced three times before marrying Jessi Colter.

Was supposed to be on the flight that killed Buddy Holly, 'The Big Bopper' and Ritchie Valens. The Big Bopper was ill and wanted to fly rather than ride the tour bus, so Jennings gave him his seat on the plane.

Ended a 20-year cocaine addiction in 1984. At times he was spending $1500 a day on the drug.

High school dropout who got his GED in 1989.

Had have one of his feet amputated due to diabetes in 2002.

He made occasional forays into TV movies, including Stagecoach (1986) (TV) and The Oklahoma City Dolls (1981) (TV), plus the Sesame Street movie Sesame Street Presents: Follow that Bird (1985) and a low-budget country/western musical, Nashville Rebel (1966).

In the mid-'80s he joined with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson to form the quartet The Highwaymen, which recorded together and did concert tours.

"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.

His "Greatest Hits" album in 1979 sold four million copies--a rare accomplishment in country music for that era.

His other hit singles included "I'm a Ramblin' Man", "Amanda", "Lucille", "I've Always Been Crazy" and "Rose in Paradise".

Named Male Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1975.

Won a Grammy Award for a version of "MacArthur Park" recorded with The Kimberleys.

He sold more than 40 million albums and singles worldwide, including 16 #1 country hits.

Survived by Jessi Colter, his fourth wife, and seven children.

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.

He often refused to attend music awards shows on the grounds that performers should not compete against each other. Despite those sentiments, he won two Grammy awards and four Country Music Association awards. He did not attend his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Son (with Jessi Colter) Shooter Jennings (b. Waylon Albright Jennings, 1979) sings with the L.A. band Stargunn.

Worked as a DJ at a Lubbock, TX radio station.

Jokingly told his friend Buddy Holly that he hoped his plane crashed, after he gave up his own seat, but was said to be extremely remorseful of the light-hearted comment and for years felt somehow responsible for his friend's death.

Stevie Nicks wrote her 1981 hit "Leather & Lace" at Jennings' request, as a song for he and wife Jessi Colter. It was his intent that they would record the song at a future time. However, by the time Nicks finished penning the song, Waylon and Jessi had split. Nicks recorded it with Don Henley (of Eagles). The Nicks/Henley version was included on her 1981 LP "Bella Donna" and went to #6 on the US charts. Waylon and Jessi never made a studio recording of the song.

He claimed that his guitarist Jimmy Byrd was the only other man who could perform his trademark "Chicken Picking" style of guitar playing and often called him "Abe Lincoln" due to his resemblance to former president Abraham Lincoln.

He was usually regarded as the unifying, central force of "The Highwaymen", as he brought together Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, all of whom he had been friends with since the 1960s.

Is portrayed by his son Shooter Jennings in Walk the Line (2005).

Personal Quotes

[his last comment to friend Buddy Holly] Hope your darn ole plane crashes.

[about his "outlaw" image] It was a good marketing tool. In a way, I am that way. You start messing with my music, I get mean. As long as you are honest and up front with me, I will be the same with you. But I still do things my way.

There's always one more way to do something - your way.

Some people have their music. My music has me.

[1984, in an interview in the CMA's "Close Up" magazine] I did more drugs than anybody you ever saw in your life.

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