Waylon Jennings

Waylon Jennings was a singer, songwriter and Country music legend. Jennings was also a key player in the "Outlaw" country movement of the late 1970s along with other country singers such as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. In such songs, Jennings and company sang about such topics as anger, loneliness, romantic difficulties, and fighting, though usually with more humor and irony rather than pathos. Jennings is most famous for penning the classic theme song for the television show The Dukes of Hazzard, as well as "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys." Most of the rest of his music is less popular among mainstream audiences, but Jennings has a loyal following among old-time country music fans.

Jennings died after a long career at the age of 64 in 2002, at his home in Arizona. He had been suffering from diabetes. http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/2002/2002-02-13-jennings-obit.htm On Country Music Television's list of the 40 most influential men of country music, Jennings was ranked fifth in 2003.

He escaped death on February 3, 1959. Jennings was on tour with Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper and Buddy Holly, for whom he played base. Holly chartered a plane to take them to their next tour destination, and Jennings gave up his seat to the The Big Bopper, as he was sick at the time and he didn't want his band mate on the tour bus. When Holly found out that Jennings wouldn't be flying with them, he said "Well, I hope your ol' bus freezes up", and Jennings replied "Well, I hope your ol' plane crashes." This statement, made in fun, would haunt Jennings for the rest of his life.