American country musician (1937–2002) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Waylon Arnold Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American country singer-songwriter and guitarist. Jennings first became famous as a member of Buddy Holly's backing band. On February 3, 1959, while playing shows with Holly, he gave up his airplane seat J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. The airplane crashed after it took-off killing Richarson, Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly. Jennings claimed that in the years afterward he felt severe guilt over the crash.[1]
Waylon Jennings | |
|---|---|
Waylon Jennings, 1976 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Waylon Arnold Jennings |
| Also known as | Hoss |
| Born | June 15, 1937 Littlefield, Texas, US |
| Died | February 13, 2002 (aged 64) Chandler, Arizona, US |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Voice, guitar |
| Years active | 1959–2002 |
| Website | www.waylon.com |
By the 1970s, Jennings had become associated with a country music scene known as outlaw country. Jennings recorded a series of albums with Willie Nelson in the late 1970s which increased the popularity of the outlaw country sound.
In 1979, he recorded the theme song for the television show The Dukes of Hazzard. Jennings also became the narrator of the show for all seven seasons.
In the 1980s he formed the group The Highwaymen along with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.
In 2001, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
On February 13, 2002, Waylon Jennings died in Chandler, Arizona from health complications due to diabetes.[2][3]
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