Waylon Arnold Jennings (born Wayland Arnold Jennings; June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American country music singer, songwriter, musician, and actor, recognized as a pioneer of the outlaw movement in country music. Jennings began playing guitar at age eight and performed on KVOW radio at fourteen, after which he formed his first band, the Texas Longhorns. He left high school at sixteen to pursue music and worked as a performer and DJ on stations including KVOW, KDAV, KYTI, and KLLL in Arizona. In 1958, Buddy Holly arranged Jennings's first recording session, a cover of "Jole Blon," and hired him to play bass. Jennings gave up his seat on the 1959 flight that crashed and killed Holly, J. P. "the Big Bopper" Richardson, and Ritchie Valens. After a period away from music, Jennings moved to Arizona and formed the rockabilly club band the Waylors, which became the house band at "JD's" in Tempe. He recorded for Trend Records and A&M Records, but achieved broader success after signing with RCA Victor in 1965. In 1972, he acquired Neil Reshen as his manager, who negotiated improved touring and recording contracts. With creative control at RCA, Jennings released the albums "Lonesome, On'ry and Mean" and "Honky Tonk Heroes," followed by "Dreaming My Dreams" and "Are You Ready for the Country." During the 1970s, Jennings was a central figure in outlaw country. With Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, and Jessi Colter, he recorded the album "Wanted! The Outlaws," country music's first platinum album, followed by "Ol' Waylon," the first platinum album by a solo country artist, which included the hit song "Luckenbach, Texas." He also appeared on the 1978 album "White Mansions," which depicted Confederate life during the Civil War. Jennings appeared in films and television, including "Sesame Street," and served as the Balladeer on "The Dukes of Hazzard," composing and performing its theme song. Jennings struggled with cocaine addiction but overcame it in 1984. He later joined the country supergroup the Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash, releasing three albums between 1985 and 1995. During this period, he released the album "Will the Wolf Survive" and was recognized as an innovator of progressive country. Jennings reduced touring after 1997 to focus on family and faced health problems between 1999 and 2001. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and posthumously received the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music in 2007. Studio albums Waylon at JD's (1964) Folk-Country (1966) Leavin' Town (1966) Nashville Rebel (1966, soundtrack) Waylon Sings Ol' Harlan (1967) Love of the Common People (1967) The One and Only (1967) Hangin' On (1968) Only the Greatest (1968) Jewels (1968) Just to Satisfy You (1969) Waylon (1970) Singer of Sad Songs (1970) The Taker/Tulsa (1971) Cedartown, Georgia (1971) Good Hearted Woman (1972) Ladies Love Outlaws (1972) Lonesome, On'ry and Mean (1973) Honky Tonk Heroes (1973) This Time (1974) The Ramblin' Man (1974) Dreaming My Dreams (1975) Are You Ready for the Country (1976) Ol' Waylon (1977) I've Always Been Crazy (1978) What Goes Around Comes Around (1979) Music Man (1980) Black on Black (1982) It's Only Rock + Roll (1983) Waylon and Company (1983) Never Could Toe the Mark (1984) Turn the Page (1985) Sweet Mother Texas (1986) Will the Wolf Survive (1986) Hangin' Tough (1987) A Man Called Hoss (1987) Full Circle (1988) The Eagle (1990) Too Dumb for New York City, Too Ugly for L.A. (1992) Ol' Waylon Sings Ol' Hank (1992) Cowboys, Sisters, Rascals & Dirt (1993) Waymore's Blues (Part II) (1994) Right for the Time (1996) Closing In on the Fire (1998) Waylon Forever (2008, with Shooter Jennings and the .357's) Goin' Down Rockin': The Last Recordings (2012) Songbird (2025) <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/Waylon+Jennings">Read more on Last.fm</a>. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.