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OBIT: Waylon Jennings, 16 Jun 37 - 13 Feb 02

13 Feb 02 - 06:32 PM (#649464)
Subject: Waylon Jennings
From: GUEST,bob schwarer

The local news people just announced that Waylon died a little bit ago. Another great loss. Saw a few of his shows. Always good.

Bob S.


13 Feb 02 - 06:48 PM (#649474)
Subject: RE: Waylon Jennings
From: 53

I haven't heard but it is a sad loss to the music industry.


13 Feb 02 - 07:04 PM (#649487)
Subject: RE: Waylon Jennings
From: Lonesome EJ

You have to say that he and Willie and Tompall gave the Country Music industry a well-needed kick in the pants in the mid seventies.


13 Feb 02 - 07:15 PM (#649496)
Subject: RE: Waylon Jennings
From: catspaw49

aw geez.......Yeah, I liked Waylon a lot. And Leej has it right.........Bad news here tonight.........

When I lived in Nashville (Hendersonville), we lived about a dozen houses down the road........Never saw Cash on the road, but you'd see Waylon occasionally. We lived in a house that had a long drive the tour buses would turn in...."Nobody important lives here folks. we're just turning around."

I enjoyed his music and his style........especially his style. Not musical style, "human" style. What a bummer....This really sucks............Well, he often said he was living on borrowed time since February 3, 1959 when he was supposed to have been on the plane with Buddy Holly. 43 years and a few days........ I'm glad we got the benefit of that extra time.

Spaw


13 Feb 02 - 07:20 PM (#649502)
Subject: RE: Waylon Jennings
From: catspaw49

Found this...Pretty decent obit:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Waylon Jennings, who defined the outlaw movement in country music, died Wednesday after a long battle with diabetes-related health problems. He was 64.

Jennings spokeswoman Schatzie Hageman said Jennings died peacefully at his home in Arizona.

Jennings, a singer, songwriter and guitarist, recorded 60 albums and had 16 No. 1 country singles in a career that spanned five decades and began when he played bass for Buddy Holly. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October.

He had been plagued with diabetes-related health problems in recent years that made it difficult for him to walk. In December, his left foot was amputated at a Phoenix hospital.

Jennings and his wife, singer Jessi Colter, sold their home in Nashville more than a year ago and moved to Chandler, Ariz.

In 1959, his career was nearly cut short by tragedy soon after it began.

He was scheduled to fly on the light plane that crashed and killed Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. Jennings gave up his seat on the plane to the Richardson, who was ill and wanted to fly rather than travel by bus with those left behind.

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." 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.

For about 10 years, he declined to appear on the Grand Ole Opry because a full set of drums was forbidden at the time. That rule was eventually dropped.

In 1992, he told the AP: "I've never compromised, and people respect that."

Of 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."

Born in Littlefield, Texas, Jennings became a radio disc jockey at 14 and formed his own band not long afte rward.

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."

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.

His "Greatest Hits" album in 1979 sold 4 million _ a rare accomplishment in country music for that era.

In the mid-1980s, he joined with 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.

"Some people have their music. My music has me."

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

He made occasional forays into TV movies, including "Stagecoach" and "Oklahoma City Dolls," plus the Sesame Street movie "Follow That Bird" and the B-movie "Nashville Rebel."

He has said he spent 21 years on drugs and had a $1,500-a-day cocaine habit.

"I did more drugs than anybody you ever saw in your life," he told the Country Music Association's Close Up magazine in 1994.

In 1977, he was arrested at a Nashville recording studio and charged with conspiracy and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The charges were later dismissed.

He kicked the habit in 1984 by leasing a house in Arizona and going cold turkey, he said.

He and Colter, his fourth wife, married in 1969. They had one son, Shooter.


Christ I am really bummed............

Spaw


13 Feb 02 - 07:38 PM (#649522)
Subject: RE: Waylon Jennings
From: wysiwyg

Aw,

CRAP!

~S~


13 Feb 02 - 07:40 PM (#649524)
Subject: RE: Waylon Jennings
From: 53

He was also the narrator for the dukes of hazard.


13 Feb 02 - 07:43 PM (#649527)
Subject: RE: Waylon Jennings
From: Midchuck

Glad we named the kittens after him and Willie...some kind of continuity....

Peter.


13 Feb 02 - 08:04 PM (#649545)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: khandu

"Singer of Sad Songs, I need your services today."

Farewell, Waylon. I am gonna miss you.

khandu


13 Feb 02 - 08:07 PM (#649550)
Subject: RE: Waylon Jennings
From: DougR

I knew Waylon when he was performing at the night club in Phoenix, which was owned by a friend of mine. My wife and I would go to the club to listen to him and his band. He would come to our table on breaks and visit with us. This was before he was a star, of course, but it was fairly easy to predict that he would be one given the opportunity. A little known story is that Jerry Purcell, Eddy Arnold's manager had a hand in Waylon going to Nashville. Eddy appeared with the Phoenix Symphony and I told Jerry he should go out out to J.B's and listen to Waylon. He did, told Chet Atkins about him, and shortly thereafter Waylon left Phoenix for Nashville.

He was a real gentleman when I knew him, and I'm really sorry country music, and all his fans have lost him.

One of his first recordings, a 45 RPM, made at Audio Recorders here in Phoenix was "Four Strong Winds." There is a trumpet part on the end of the song that was performed by Herb Alpert. I wish I still had that old 45 record, though I would have nothing to play it on.

DougR


13 Feb 02 - 08:51 PM (#649600)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: GUEST,Whistle and Bagpipes

Actually in the obit they got at least 1 thing wrong. He was not teenage friends with Buddy Holly. Holly had only met him after he was star and Waylon was working at a local radio station and only played professionally with Buddy on his last tour (he had to learn to play bass for the tour and was taught by Holly).


13 Feb 02 - 09:00 PM (#649604)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: GUEST,Big Mick

Seems so damned ironic that I am enjoying one of the great musical experiences of my life, only to have it colored by this very sad news. We must now start to listen for his voice in others. It will be heard.

Mick


13 Feb 02 - 09:15 PM (#649612)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Steve Latimer

Man, I'm sorry to hear this. I really liked Waylon. He sure wrote some beauts.

I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane.


13 Feb 02 - 09:32 PM (#649623)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: katlaughing

Oh, man, I hate this! I met my Rog when we both worked at a C&W radio station in the early 80's where we heard a LOT of Waylon and Willie and the boys. He's always had a special place in my heart. Why do all the good ones have to die....RIP, darlin'

kat


13 Feb 02 - 09:40 PM (#649627)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: catspaw49

One he co-wrote with Willie which won them a few awards and always had appeal to me....more after I met Karen.

GOOD HEARTED WOMAN

A long time forgotten the dreams that just fell by the way
The good life he promised ain't what she's living today
But she never complains of bad times and the bad things he's done
She just talks about the good times they've had
And all the good times to come

She's a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man
She loves him in spite of his wicked ways she don't understand
Through teardrops and laughter
They'll pass through this world hand in hand
A good hearted woman lovin' a good timin' man

He likes the bright lights the night life
And good timin' friends
And when the party's all over she'll welcome him back home again
Lord knows she don't understand him but she does the very best that she can
She's a good hearted woman lovin' her good timin' man

She's a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man
She loves him in spite of his wicked ways she don't understand
Through teardrops and laughter
They'll pass through this world hand in hand
A good hearted woman lovin' a good timin' man

She's a good hearted woman in love with a good timin' man
She loves him in spite of his wicked ways she don't understand
Through teardrops and laughter
They'll pass through this world hand in hand
A good hearted woman lovin' a good timin' man


Spaw



13 Feb 02 - 11:08 PM (#649666)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Rustic Rebel

I'm so sad to hear about Waylon. Since I heard the news I keep singing "It's been a long time leavin' it'll be a long time gone. Hello highline, hello hyway, here come a big ol' semi, my way. Pick up my thumb, hear the truck come, trees going by, And then it really bugs me but I can't remember the next line, then, open up my fly on my Levi's. Whoop! whoop! Well I'll lift my glass to Waylon and say "Happy Trails" Rustic


13 Feb 02 - 11:16 PM (#649671)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Charcloth

Bummer


13 Feb 02 - 11:16 PM (#649672)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: catspaw49

Yeah....the Roger Miller song.........

I've Been a Long Time Leavin'

I've been a fool, I've been a foo-ooo-ooool
Forgivin' you each time you done me wrong
I've been a long time leavin' ya, but I'll be a long time gone

Loved you so much, loved you so mu-u-huuuch
I stayed around when I should've moved along
I've been a long time leavin' ya, but I'll be a long time gone

I say hi there high line, hello highway
Here come a big old semi my way
I stick up my thumb, hear the truck come
But the truck goes by and he looks like he's flyin'
And he whoops the big legs on my Levi's
They go woop woop woop woop woop

I've been a fool, I've been a foo-oo-ooool
Forgivin' you each time that you've done me wrong
I've been a long time leavin' ya, but I'll be a long time gone

I say hi there high line, hello highway
Here come a big old semi my way
I stick up my thumb, hear the truck come
But the truck goes by and he looks like he's flyin'
And he's whoopin' the big legs on my Levi's
Woop woop woop woop woop woop woop woop

I've been a fool, I've been a foo-oo-ooool
Forgivin' you each time that you've done me wrong
I've been a long time leavin' ya, but I'll be a long time gone

gone gone gone
gone gone gone



Spaw


13 Feb 02 - 11:40 PM (#649688)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Stilly River Sage

    He was also the narrator for the dukes of hazard.
I won't hold that against him!

The late Chet Atkins used to appear regularly on A Prairie Home Companion, but didn't Waylon also occasionally visit the show?

SRS


13 Feb 02 - 11:57 PM (#649700)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Mark Clark

Thanks, Spaw, for the obit and the tunes. Damn that's bad news.

      - Mark


14 Feb 02 - 02:31 AM (#649734)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Cappuccino

Saw him once over here in London in the late 1980s - great show. One of my favourite albums is a collection of his very early recordings - Sally Was A Good Ol' Girl, and so on. Still play it regularly - think I'll look it out and play it while I work this morning. - Ian B


14 Feb 02 - 06:32 AM (#649803)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Sir Roger de Beverley

As well as all of the Buddy Holly connections mentioned already Buddy also played on, produced and paid for Waylon's first ever recording - a version of Jole Blon.


14 Feb 02 - 09:11 AM (#649878)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Mrrzy

Very sad news - a true American troubadour. The Washington Post also has a nice obit. I hadn't known that Waylon and someone gave their seats to Valens and The Big Bopper on the plane that crashed The Day The Music Died.


14 Feb 02 - 09:25 AM (#649884)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Fortunato

Faron Young sang:

"Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young, (and leave a beautiful memory)". (Joe Allison)




14 Feb 02 - 09:57 AM (#649907)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: SDShad

Dang. Give 'em hell, Wayl'n.

Two musical moments from Waylon's prolific body of recorded material stick with me more than any others, where that big, boomy, larger-than-life voice of his did things that send chills down your spine. One was his verse of "The Highwayman." Willie, Johnny, and Kris ain't exactly slouches either in the singin' department (well maybe Kris, but he slouches so well), but when he booms in with "I was a dam-builder" you're hooked. The other moment was his harmonies with Emmylou Harris on her version of "Spanish Johnny." It sounded like him, and yet it didn't, and gives the song an amazing, haunting quality that no other voice could.

A great, great loss.

Chris


14 Feb 02 - 12:01 PM (#649974)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Rex

I have fond memories of Waylon and Willie singing "Luckenbach" on the jukebox in my early days. We've lost another great one.

Rex


14 Feb 02 - 12:11 PM (#649983)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Wesley S

Mrrzy - The other guy you mentioned that gave up his seat on Buddy Holly's plane was Tommy Alsup. He owned a club here in Ft Worth called the "Heads Up" club { named because thats how he lost his seat on the plane - the coin fell heads up}. It was only recently that I realized that I had met { briefly } both of the men that didn't get on that plane.

Nashville could use a few more Waylons nowadays.


14 Feb 02 - 12:18 PM (#649988)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: catspaw49

Ain't that the livin' truth!

Spaw


14 Feb 02 - 12:19 PM (#649991)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Steve in Idaho

I went on Paltalk last night and heard the news there. The only thing I could do was dedicate "Clayton Delaney" to him. Probably the crappiest version I've ever done but I could not get it into/out of my head that he was gone.

I never heard him live but when I was playing music during the 70s his songs were a staple for the cowboys we played for.

So long Waylon - you will be missed.

Steve


14 Feb 02 - 01:04 PM (#650040)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Clinton Hammond

Drag...


14 Feb 02 - 03:38 PM (#650166)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: wildlone

I have the album White Mansions on vinyl,tape and cd that get played


14 Feb 02 - 03:41 PM (#650169)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: wildlone

Gremlins in the machine
a lot.
Plus a lot of other Waylon Jennings stuff.
A great singer.
dave


14 Feb 02 - 06:28 PM (#650334)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Brían

My wife told me today. I am going to miss him. I was listening to him while all my friends were listening to MTV-generated crap.

Brían


14 Feb 02 - 10:07 PM (#650529)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: DancingMom

What a voice! We'll miss him. Sharon


14 Feb 02 - 11:09 PM (#650561)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: 53

I just finished watching the CMT special on Waylon, and it was very informative, he was truly a pioneer in the music business, I wish a lot more people had balls like him, then maybe the country music business would not be in the shape it's in today. Ever heard of Jessica Andrews, well she's just another one of Nashvilles' clones, saying if I got the money then you got the time.


15 Feb 02 - 05:47 PM (#651106)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: Peter T.

There's a sad, mad heron out on the town tonight, drowning its sorrows. Be warned.

yours, Peter T.


15 Feb 02 - 06:32 PM (#651136)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: catspaw49

Yeah PT.........I thought of him...........Hope he drowns his sorrows.

Spaw


16 Feb 02 - 12:54 AM (#651331)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: GUEST,BigDaddy

Makes me feel "Lonesome, On'ry And Mean." Really enjoyed that album and "Ladies Love Outlaws" back in the mid-seventies before being an "outlaw" became country chic. Enjoyed him ever since. Only one of the "Highwaymen" I never got to see perform in person. Saw Johnny Cash back in '63, Kristofferson in '75 and Willie in '80. I suspect it was the mileage, not the years. No less a loss. Ride on, Waylon...


14 Sep 04 - 02:05 PM (#1271992)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: katlaughing

refresh for MG


15 Sep 04 - 02:09 AM (#1272055)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings
From: GUEST,Art Thieme

I am very sad Waylon is gone. There was a wonderful song he sang about a river----maybe the GREEN RIVER in Kentucky. When I spent summers in Evansville, Indiana we'd go out on the Ohio River, find the mouth of the Greeen, and fish all day about two miles in. Good times. But Waylon acted in the movie about the river I think. Ray Tate who was then the head of the Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago had some interest in that film. Well, it wasn't much of a movie. But that song was my favorite thing Waylon ever recorded. Must've been about 1958...

Art Thieme


15 Sep 04 - 02:33 AM (#1272060)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Waylon Jennings, 16 Jun 37 - 13 Feb 02
From: Teresa

I really liked his singing in _Civil War Songs_, the companion recording to the series, with the McGarrigles, Richie Havens, et al.

T