[thechat] goodbye, waylon

[Erika Meyer]

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 ó 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 afterward.

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 ó 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 ó not necessarily by what
people see when they see us ó 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.

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