Waylon Jennings biography

Synopsis

Early Career

Singer, songwriter, musician. Born on June 15, 1937, in Littlefield, Texas. A musical rebel, Waylon Jennings is best remembered for helping to popularize a grittier and more rock-influenced style of “outlaw” country music. He and some of his fellow artists were labeled “outlaws” for challenging the country music establishment and for their hard-partying ways.

Jennings learned to play guitar as a child. By the age of 12, he was playing in a band and working as a radio disc jockey. Jennings dropped out of school and moved to Lubbock in 1954. There he found work at a local radio station, KLLL, where he met and befriended early rock and roll star Buddy Holly. In 1958, Holly produced Jennings’ first single, “Jole Blon,” and Jennings played in Holly’s backup band, The Crickets, for a time. He was performing with the group on February 3, 1959, and he was supposed to get on a private plane with Holly after their show at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. Jennings, however, gave up his spot on the plane to rock star J. P. Richardson—better known as the Big Bopper—who wasn’t feeling well. Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed, killing Holly, Richardson, singer Ritchie Valens, and the pilot.

Heartbroken after the tragedy, Jennings returned to Lubbock for a time and worked as a radio disc jockey. He moved to Phoenix in 1960 and restarted his musical career, forming a band called the Waylors. The group developed a local following and even recorded some singles through the independent record label Trend. While the band never really took off commercially, Jennings landed a contract with A&M Records in 1963 and moved to Los Angeles. He got into a conflict with the record label over the direction of his music. They wanted him to take on more of a pop sound. Not one to be pushed around, Jennings remained committed to his country style. He made only one album for A&M.

Country Star

In 1965, Jennings moved to Nashville. He became roommates with country music’s man in black, Johnny Cash, which marked the start of a lifelong friendship. That year Jennings had his first country hit, “Stop the World (And Let Me Off).” By 1968, he had several successful singles, including “Walk On Out of My Mind” and “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line.” Jennings won his first Grammy Award in 1969 for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “MacArthur Park,” which he recorded with the Kimberlys.

Around this time, Jennings’ musical style continued to evolve, taking on a tougher, more bass-driven sound.