'It's something you can't wear out'

 

“Honesty is something you can't wear out.” – Waylon Jennings
 

Born in Littlefield, TX on June 15, 1937 Jennings learned how to play guitar by the time he was 8 and started in the entertainment business at age 12 – working as a DJ at a local radio station.   In 1954 he befriended rising star Buddy Holly who also became his mentor, collaborating with him on songs and helping produce Waylon’s first record that year.  Among his "most played" hits were Lonesome and Luckenbach, Texas.  He recorded hundreds of songs and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and given Country's "Lifetime Achievement Award" before his relatively early death at age 64.

  

Jennings also became a fill-in player for Holly’s group The Crickets and was with him in Iowa on his final tour in the winter of 1959, ending in Holly’s death in a plane crash.  Jennings was supposed to be on that plane with Holly but at the last minute gave up his seat to The Big Bopper because the latter was suffering from a bad cold.

 

Ultimately, Jennings became one of the great songwriters and singers of country, country rock, and a new genre – founded with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Jessi Coulter – called “Outlaw Country.”   He, Willie, Johnny Cash and Kristofferson also formed a group known as The Highwaymen and had recorded several hit songs together before he died in 2002 of complications from diabetes.

 

Known for his support of many social issues and causes, Jennings said that was an easy choice.  “A lot of times people don't want to hear it.  But you know, if some good is done to you, you should pass it on.”