Questions
Where and when was Waylon Jennings born?
He was born June 15, 1937, in Littlefield, Texas. His mother taught him guitar at age 8, and he was performing on KVOW radio by age 14.
Is it true he gave up his seat on the plane that killed Buddy Holly?
Yes. Jennings was playing bass on Buddy Holly’s 1959 Winter Dance Party tour and gave up his seat on the chartered plane to an ill J.P. Richardson (the Big Bopper). The plane crashed on February 3, 1959, killing everyone aboard.
What was that eerie exchange with Buddy Holly before the crash?
Reportedly, when Holly learned Jennings had given up his seat, he joked "I hope your bus freezes up," and Jennings shot back "I hope your plane crashes." He carried guilt over the remark for decades.
What made Waylon a leader of outlaw country?
After winning creative control from RCA Records in 1973, he made albums like Honky Tonk Heroes on his own terms. In 1976 he, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser released Wanted! The Outlaws, which became country music’s first platinum album.
What were some of his biggest albums?
Standouts include Dreaming My Dreams (1975), Are You Ready for the Country (1976), and Ol’ Waylon (1977).
Did he really sing the Dukes of Hazzard theme?
Yes. He wrote and performed "Good Ol’ Boys," the theme for The Dukes of Hazzard, and it became the biggest hit of his career, reaching number 1 on the country chart and number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Was he also the narrator on The Dukes of Hazzard?
He was. From 1979 to 1985 he served as the Balladeer narrator across 147 episodes and even appeared as himself in one season 7 episode.
Who were The Waylors?
They were his backing band, formed in Phoenix, Arizona, and featuring bassist Paul Foster, guitarist Jerry Gropp, and drummer Richie Albright. They became the house band at JD’s club in Tempe.
What was The Highwaymen?
It was a country supergroup Jennings formed in the mid-1980s with Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson. They released three albums between 1985 and 1995.
Was Waylon married to another country star?
Yes, he married singer Jessi Colter on October 26, 1969, in Phoenix. Their son Waylon Albright, born in 1979, is known today as Shooter Jennings.
How bad was his cocaine addiction?
At its peak he was reportedly spending about $1,500 a day and ran up roughly $2.5 million in debt. He quit cocaine in 1984, crediting his son Shooter as his main inspiration.
What major awards did he win?
He won Grammy Awards in 1970 and 1979, took the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year in 1975, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October 2001.
How successful was he on the charts?
Between 1965 and 1991 he placed 96 singles on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart, 16 of them reaching number 1, along with 54 charting country albums, 11 of which hit number 1.
When did Waylon Jennings die?
He died February 13, 2002, in Chandler, Arizona, at age 64, from complications of diabetes. He was buried in the City of Mesa Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona.
What is his lasting legacy?
He influenced artists from Hank Williams Jr. and Steve Earle to Eric Church and his son Shooter. Littlefield, Texas renamed a street Waylon Jennings Boulevard, and Rolling Stone ranked him number 7 on its 2017 list of the 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time.
