Editing Waylon Jennings (section)

== Career ==
=== Beginnings in music ===
When Jennings was 8, his mother taught him to play guitar with the tune "Thirty Pieces of Silver". Jennings used to practice with his relatives' instruments until his mother bought him a used [[Stella (guitar)|Stella]] guitar, and later ordered a [[Harmony Company models#Patrician|Harmony Patrician]].{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=22}} Early influences included [[Bob Wills]], [[Floyd Tillman]], [[Ernest Tubb]], [[Hank Williams]], [[Carl Smith (country musician)|Carl Smith]], [[Dean Martin]], and [[Elvis Presley]].<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/waylon-jennings-dead-at-sixty-four-20020214|title=Waylon Jennings Dead at Sixty-four|author=Dansby, Andrew|date=February 14, 2002|access-date=November 1, 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>{{sfn|Wishart|2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=rtRFyFO4hpEC&dq=waylon%20jennings%20drop%20out%20high%20school&pg=PA540 540]}}{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=271}}{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=34}}

Beginning with performing at family gatherings, Jennings played his first public concert at the Youth Center with Anthony Bonanno, followed by appearances at the local [[United States Junior Chamber|Jaycees]] and [[Lions Clubs International|Lions Clubs]]. He won a talent show at [[KLBK-TV|Channel 13]], in Lubbock, singing "[[Hey Joe (Carl Smith song)|Hey Joe]]". He later made frequent performances at the Palace Theater in Littlefield, during local talent night.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=36}}

At age 14, Jennings auditioned for a spot on KVOW in Littlefield, Texas. Owner J. B. McShan, along with Emil Macha, recorded Jennings's performance. McShan liked his style and hired him for a weekly 30-minute program. Following his performance on the show, Jennings formed his own band. He asked Macha to play bass for him and gathered other friends and acquaintances to form the Texas Longhorns. The style of the band—a mixture of [[country and western]] and [[bluegrass music]]—was often not well received.{{sfn|Carr|Munde|1997|p=154}}

[[File:Waylon Jennings KLLL.jpg|thumb|200px|Jennings during a broadcast of his show on KLLL in 1958]]
After several disciplinary infractions, 16-year-old Jennings was convinced to drop out of Littlefield High School by the superintendent.{{sfn|Burton, Alan|2002|p=79}} Upon leaving school, he worked for his father in the family store and also took temporary jobs. Jennings felt that music would turn into his career.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|pp=31–33}} The next year he, along with the Texas Longhorns, recorded demo versions of the songs "Stranger in My Home" and "There'll Be a New Day" at [[KFYO (AM)|KFYO]] radio in Lubbock.{{sfn|Carr|Munde|1997|p=154}} Meanwhile, he drove a truck for the Thomas Land Lumber Company, and a [[cement truck]] for the Roberts Lumber Company. Tired of the owner, Jennings quit after a minor driving accident.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=39}} Jennings, and other local musicians, often performed at country radio station [[KBZO (AM)|KDAV]].  During this time he met [[Buddy Holly]] at a Lubbock restaurant.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=48}} The two often met during local shows, and Jennings began to attend Holly's performances on KDAV's ''Sunday Party''.{{sfn|Amburn|p=15|2014}}

In addition to performing on air for KVOW, Jennings started to work as a DJ in 1956{{sfn|Carr|Munde|1997|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=6Q2QhJf4jR0C&dq=Waylon+Jennings+KLLL&pg=PT166 155]}} and moved to Lubbock.{{sfn|Carr|Munde|1997|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=6Q2QhJf4jR0C&dq=Waylon+Jennings+KLLL&pg=PT166 155]}} His program ran from 4:00 in the afternoon to 10:00 in the evening, filled with two hours of country classics, two of current country, and two of mixed recordings.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=40}} The latter included early rock-and-roll stars such as [[Chuck Berry]] and [[Little Richard]]. The owner reprimanded Jennings for his selection, and after playing two Little Richard records in a row Jennings was fired.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=47}}

During his time at KVOW Jennings was visited by DJ Sky Corbin of [[KLVT]] in Levelland. Corbin was impressed with his voice, and decided to visit Jennings at the station after hearing him sing a jingle to the tune of Hank Snow's "[[I'm Moving On (Hank Snow song)|I'm Moving On]]". Jennings expressed his struggle to live on a $50-a-week salary. Corbin invited Jennings to visit KLVT, where he eventually took Corbin's position when it opened.<ref>{{cite news|author=Corbin, Sky|url=http://www.klll.com/The-Waylon-Jennings-Years-at-KLLL-Part-One-/18144181?pid=393697|title=The Waylon Jennings Years at KLLL (Part One)|work=KLLL|publisher=KLLL Lubbock|access-date=July 2, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714171821/http://www.klll.com/The-Waylon-Jennings-Years-at-KLLL-Part-One-/18144181?pid=393697|archive-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref> The Corbin family later purchased [[KLLL]], in Lubbock. They changed the format of the station to country, becoming the main competition of KDAV. The Corbins hired Jennings as the station's first DJ.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=51}}

{{listen|filename=Jole Blon Waylon Jennings.ogg|title=Jole Blon|description=During his first recording session in September 1958, Jennings was accompanied by Buddy Holly on the guitar and King Curtis on the saxophone}}
Jennings produced commercials and created jingles with the rest of the DJs. As their popularity increased, the DJs made public appearances. Jennings's events included live performances. During one performance, Holly's father, L. O. Holley, approached them with his son's latest record and asked them to play it at the station. Holley mentioned his son's intention to start producing artists himself, and Corbin recommended Jennings. After returning from his tour of England Buddy Holly visited KLLL.<ref>{{cite news|author=Corbin, Sky|url=http://www.klll.com/The-Waylon-Jennings-Years-at-KLLL-Part-Two-The-int/18144181?pid=393913|title=The Waylon Jennings Years at KLLL (Part Two)|work=KLLL|publisher=KLLL Lubbock|access-date=July 2, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165213/http://www.klll.com/The-Waylon-Jennings-Years-at-KLLL-Part-Two-The-int/18144181?pid=393913|archive-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref>

Holly took Jennings as his first artist. He outfitted him with new clothes, and worked with him to improve his image.<ref>{{cite news|author=Corbin, Sky|url=http://www.klll.com/The-Waylon-Jennings-Years-at-KLLL-Part-Four-/18144181?pid=394643|title=The Waylon Jennings Years at KLLL (Part Four)|work=KLLL|publisher=KLLL Lubbock|access-date=July 2, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714175405/http://www.klll.com/The-Waylon-Jennings-Years-at-KLLL-Part-Four-/18144181?pid=394643|archive-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref> He arranged a session for Jennings at [[Norman Petty]]'s recording studios in [[Clovis, New Mexico]]. On September 10, Jennings recorded the songs "[[Jole Blon]]" and "When Sin Stops (Love Begins)" with Holly and [[Tommy Allsup]] on guitars and saxophonist [[King Curtis]]. Holly then hired Jennings to play bass for him during his "Winter Dance Party Tour".{{sfn|Carr|Munde|1997|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=6Q2QhJf4jR0C&dq=Waylon+Jennings+KLLL&pg=PT166 155]}}

=== Winter Dance Party Tour ===
Before the tour, Holly vacationed with his wife in Lubbock and visited Jennings's radio station in December 1958. Jennings and Sky Corbin performed the hand-claps to Holly's tune "You're the One".{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p = 51}} Jennings and Holly soon left for New York City,<ref>{{cite news|author=Corbin, Sky |url=http://www.klll.com/pages/18144181.php?pid=395032 |title=The Waylon Jennings Years at KLLL (Part Five) |work=KLLL |publisher=KLLL Lubbock |access-date=July 2, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714155659/http://www.klll.com/pages/18144181.php?pid=395032 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }}</ref> arriving on January 15, 1959. Jennings stayed at Holly's apartment by [[Washington Square Park]] prior to a meeting scheduled at the headquarters of the [[General Amusement Corporation|General Artists Corporation]], which organized the tour.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|pp = 58–59}} They later took a train to Chicago to join the band.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p = 62}}

[[File:Waylon Jennings and Buddy Holly in 1959 - 2.jpg|thumb|200px|Jennings (left) in a Photo Booth in [[Grand Central Station]] with [[Buddy Holly]] on January 23, 1959.]]
The [[Winter Dance Party]] tour began in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], on January 23, 1959. The amount of travel created logistical problems, as the distance between venues had not been considered when scheduling each performance. Adding to the problem, the unheated tour buses twice broke down in freezing weather, leading to drummer [[Carl Bunch]] being hospitalized for frostbite on his toes. Holly made the decision to find another means of transportation.{{sfn|Everitt|2004|p = [https://books.google.com/books?id=H4TSH_b7IHYC&dq=%22I%20hope%20your%20ol'%20bus%20freezes%20up%22&pg=PA13 13]}}

Before their performance at the [[Surf Ballroom]] in [[Clear Lake, Iowa]], Holly chartered a four-seat [[Beechcraft Bonanza]] airplane from Dwyer Flying Service in [[Mason City, Iowa]], for himself, Jennings, and Tommy Allsup, to avoid the long bus trip to their next venue in [[Moorhead, Minnesota]]. Following the Clear Lake show (which ended around midnight), Allsup lost a coin toss and gave up his seat on the charter plane to [[Ritchie Valens]], while Jennings voluntarily gave up his seat to J. P. Richardson, known as [[the Big Bopper]], who was suffering from the flu and complaining about how cold and uncomfortable the tour bus was for a man of his size.{{sfn|Denberg, Jody|1988|p=103}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/04/entertainment/buddy-holly-plane-crash-reexamined/index.html|title=Buddy Holly plane crash may be re-examined|date=March 4, 2015|last1=Hetter|first1=Katia|last2=Marsh|first2=Rene|website=CNN}}</ref>

When Holly learned that his bandmates had given up their seats on the plane and had chosen to take the bus rather than fly, a friendly banter between Holly and Jennings ensued, and it would come back to haunt Jennings for decades to follow: Holly jokingly told Jennings, "Well, I hope your ol' bus freezes up!" Jennings jokingly replied, "Well, I hope your ol' plane crashes!"{{sfn|Everitt|2004|p = [https://books.google.com/books?id=H4TSH_b7IHYC&dq=%22I+hope+your+ol%27+bus+freezes+up%22&pg=PA15 15]}} Under 90 minutes later, shortly after 1:00 am on February 3, 1959, [[The Day the Music Died|Holly's charter plane crashed]] into a cornfield outside Mason City, instantly killing all on board.{{sfn|Everitt|2004|p = [https://books.google.com/books?id=H4TSH_b7IHYC&dq=%22I%20hope%20your%20ol'%20bus%20freezes%20up%22&pg=PA18 18], 19}}

Later that morning, Jennings's family heard on the radio that "Buddy Holly and his band had been killed." After calling his family, Jennings called Sky Corbin at KLLL from Fargo to confirm that he had not been aboard the plane.<ref>{{cite news|author=Corbin, Sky|url=http://www.klll.com/pages/18144181.php?pid=395376|title=The Waylon Jennings Years at KLLL (Part Six)|work=KLLL|publisher=KLLL Lubbock|access-date=July 2, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150323/http://www.klll.com/pages/18144181.php?pid=395376|archive-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref> The General Artists Corporation promised to pay for first-class tickets for Jennings and the band to attend Holly's funeral in Lubbock in exchange for them playing that night in Moorhead.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p = 71}} After the first show, they were initially denied their payment by the venue, but after Jennings's persistence, they were paid.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p = 72}} The flights were never paid for,{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p = 73}} and Jennings and Allsup continued the tour for two more weeks, featuring Jennings as the lead singer.{{sfn|Carr|Munde|1997|p = [https://books.google.com/books?id=6Q2QhJf4jR0C&dq=Waylon+Jennings+KLLL&pg=PT166 155]}} They were paid less than half of the original agreed salary, and upon returning to New York, Jennings put Holly's guitar and amplifier in a locker in [[Grand Central Terminal]] and mailed the keys to [[Maria Elena Holly]]. Then he returned to Lubbock.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p = 74}}

In the early 1960s, Jennings wrote and recorded "The Stage (Stars in Heaven)", a tribute to Valens, the Big Bopper, and Holly, as well as [[Eddie Cochran]], a young musician who died in a road accident a year after the plane crash.

For decades afterward, Jennings repeatedly stated that he felt responsible for the crash that killed Holly. This sense of guilt precipitated bouts of substance abuse through much of his career.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p = 70}}

"Jole Blon" was released on Brunswick in March 1959 with limited success.<ref name="Rolling Stone" /> Now unemployed, Jennings returned to KLLL. Deeply affected by Holly's death, Jennings's performance at the station worsened. He left the station after he was denied a raise, and later worked briefly for the competition, KDAV.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|pp = 77–81}}

=== Phoenix ===
Due to his father-in-law's illness, Jennings had to shuttle between Arizona and Texas. While his family lived back in Littlefield, Jennings found a job briefly at [[KODM|KOYL]] in [[Odessa, Texas]].{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=81}} He moved with his family to [[Coolidge, Arizona]], where his wife Maxine's sister lived. He found a job performing at the Galloping Goose bar, where he was heard by Earl Perrin, who offered him a spot on [[KCKY]]. Jennings also played during the intermission at [[drive-in theater]]s and in bars.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|pp=82–86}} After a successful performance at the Cross Keys Club in [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], he was approached by two contractors (Paul Pristo and Dean Coffman) who were building a club in [[Scottsdale, Arizona|Scottsdale]] for James (Jimmy) D. Musil, called JD's. Musil engaged Jennings as his main artist<ref name=pnt>, with Jennings noted to be at the construction site.  [https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/requiem-for-an-outlaw-6413445 "Requiem for an Outlaw", ''Phoenix New Times'', February 21, 2002]<!--Note that this is the correct spelling of "Musil"; it is incorrectly spelled "Musial" in the Kaye biography.--></ref> and designed the club around his act.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=89}}

Jennings formed his backing band, [[the Waylors]], with bassist Paul Foster, guitarist Jerry Gropp, and drummer Richie Albright.{{sfn|Smith|p=15|1995}} The band soon earned a strong local fan base at JD's,{{sfn|Erlewine|Bogdanov|Woodstra|2003|p=375}} where Jennings developed his rock-influenced style of country music that defined him on his later career.{{sfn|Carr|Munde|1997|p= 159}}

[[File:Waylon Jennings - A&M Records.jpg|thumb|200px|Jennings in a promotional shot for [[A&M Records]] in 1963|left]]
In 1961, Jennings signed a recording contract with [[Trend Records]],{{sfn|Erlewine|Bogdanov|Woodstra|2003|p=375}} and experienced moderate success with his single, "Another Blue Day".{{sfn|Carr|Munde|1997|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=6Q2QhJf4jR0C&dq=Waylon%20Jennings%20KLLL&pg=PT167 156]}} His friend [[Don Bowman (singer)|Don Bowman]] took demos of Jennings to [[Jerry Moss]], who at the time was starting [[A&M Records]] with associate [[Herb Alpert]]. In July 1963 Jennings signed a contract with A&M that granted him 5% of record sales. At A&M, he recorded "Love Denied" backed with "[[Rave On!|Rave On]]", and [[Ian Tyson]]'s "[[Four Strong Winds]]" backed with "[[Just to Satisfy You (song)|Just to Satisfy You]]". He followed up by recording demos of "[[The Twelfth of Never]]", "[[Kisses Sweeter than Wine (song)|Kisses Sweeter than Wine]]", and "[[Don't Think Twice, It's All Right]]", and also produced the single "Sing the Girls a Song, Bill", backed with "[[The Race Is On]]". The singles were released between April and October 1964.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|pp=94–96}}

Jennings's records found little success at A&M, because the label was releasing mostly [[folk music]] rather than country at the time.{{sfn|Wolff|Duane|2000|p={{google books|id=3Jorozp1yp4C|p=360}}}} He had a few regional hits around Phoenix, due to local radio airplay with  "Four Strong Winds" and "Just To Satisfy You", which was co-written with Bowman. Meanwhile, he recorded an album on BAT records produced by James Musil and engineered by Jack Miller, called "JD's Waylon Jennings" on the front of the album, and "Waylon Jennings at JD's" on the back side. After 500 copies were sold at the club another 500 were pressed by the Sounds label.<ref>Country Music Foundation; p. 53</ref> He also played lead guitar for [[Patsy Montana]] on a 1964 album.{{sfn|Montana, Patsy|Frost, Jane|2002|p=166}}

Singer [[Bobby Bare]] heard Jennings's "Just to Satisfy You" on his car radio while passing through Phoenix, and recorded it and "Four Strong Winds".{{sfn|Streissguth|2013|p=52}} After stopping in Phoenix to attend a Jennings performance at JD's, Bare called [[Chet Atkins]], head of the [[RCA Victor]] studios in Nashville, and suggested he sign Jennings.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|pp=102–103}} Unsure after being offered a deal with RCA if he should quit his gig at JD's and relocate to Nashville, he sought the advice of RCA artist and friend [[Willie Nelson]], who had attended one of Jennings's shows. Upon hearing how well financially Jennings was doing at JD's Nelson suggested he stay in Phoenix.{{sfn|Nelson|Shrake|Shrake|2000|p=158}}

Jennings then asked Herb Alpert to release him from his contract with A&M, which Alpert did.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=104}} Later, after Jennings became successful, A&M compiled all of his singles and unreleased recordings and issued them as an album, ''[[Don't Think Twice (album)|Don't Think Twice]]''.{{sfn|Smith|p=231|1995}} Atkins formally signed Jennings to [[RCA Victor]] in 1965.{{sfn|Wolff|Duane|2000|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=3Jorozp1yp4C&dq=Four%20Strong%20Winds%20%20Just%20To%20Satisfy%20You%20phoenix&pg=PA360 360]}} In August Jennings made his first appearance on ''Billboard's'' [[Hot Country Songs]] chart with "That's the Chance I'll Have to Take".{{sfn|Henderson|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FikEAAAAMBAJ&dq=the%20waylors&pg=PA84 84]|2001}}

===The Nashville Sound===
[[File:Waylon Jennings Promotional Picture cropped.JPG|thumb|200px|Jennings in an RCA Victor publicity photo in late-1965.]]
In 1966, Jennings released his debut RCA Victor album ''[[Folk-Country]]'', followed by ''[[Leavin' Town]]'' and ''[[Nashville Rebel]]''.{{sfn|Cramer|p=715|2009}}{{sfn|Thompson|p=622|2002}} ''Leavin' Town'' resulted in significant chart success as the first two singles "Anita, You're Dreaming" and "Time to Bum Again" both peaked at number 17 on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Country Songs]] chart. The album's third single, a cover of [[Gordon Lightfoot]]'s "[[(That's What You Get) For Lovin' Me]]", peaked at no. 9, Jennings's first top 10 single. ''Nashville Rebel'' was the soundtrack to an independent film, ''The [[Nashville Rebel (film)|Nashville Rebel]]'', starring Jennings.<ref name="rebel">The Southern Quarterly; p. 118</ref> The single "Green River" charted on ''Billboard'' country singles at no. 11.{{sfn|Henderson|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FikEAAAAMBAJ&dq=the%20waylors&pg=PA84 84]|2001}}

{{Listen|filename=Just to Satisfy You Waylon Jennings.ogg|title="Just to Satisfy You"|description= From the album of the [[Just to Satisfy You (album)|same name]], the song was a local radio hit for Jennings in Nashville}}
In 1967, Jennings released a hit single, "[[Just to Satisfy You (song)|Just to Satisfy You]]". During an interview, Jennings remarked that the song was a "pretty good example" of the influence of his work with Buddy Holly and rockabilly music.{{sfn|Country song roundup staff|1967}} Jennings produced mid-chart albums that sold well, including 1967's ''[[Just to Satisfy You (album)|Just to Satisfy You]]'', which included the hit single.{{sfn|Cramer|p=715|2009}} Jennings's singles enjoyed success. "[[The Chokin' Kind]]" peaked at number eight on ''Billboard's'' Hot Country Singles in 1967, while "[[Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line]]" hit number two the following year. In 1969, his collaboration with the Kimberlys on the single "[[MacArthur Park (song)|MacArthur Park]]" earned a [[Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal|Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group]]. His single "[[Brown Eyed Handsome Man]]" reached number three at the Hot Country Singles chart by the end of the year.{{sfn|Kingsbury|2004|p=247}}

During this time, Jennings rented an apartment in Nashville with singer [[Johnny Cash]].{{sfn|Streissguth|2007|p=135}} Jennings and Cash were both managed by "Lucky" Moeller's booking agency Moeller Talent, Inc.{{sfn|Kingsbury|2004|p=333}} The tours organized by the agency were unproductive, with the artists being booked to venues located far from each other in close dates. After paying for the accommodation and travel expenditures, Jennings was frequently forced to request advances from the agency or RCA Victor to make the next venue. While playing 300 days on the road, Jennings's debt increased, and along with it his consumption of [[amphetamine]]. He believed himself to be "trapped on the circuit".{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|pp=112, 182}}

In 1972, Jennings released ''[[Ladies Love Outlaws (Waylon Jennings album)|Ladies Love Outlaws]]''. The single that headlined the album became a hit for Jennings, and was his first approach to [[outlaw country]].{{sfn|Larkin|1995|p=3005}} Jennings was accustomed to performing and recording with his own band, [[Waymore's Outlaws|the Waylors]], a practice that was not encouraged by powerful Nashville producers, who favored the [[Nashville sound]] produced by a roster of experienced local studio musicians. The music style publicized as "[[countrypolitan]]" was characterized by orchestral arrangements and the absence of most traditional country music instruments. The producers did not let Jennings play his own guitar or select material to record.{{sfn|Carr|Munde|1997|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=6Q2QhJf4jR0C&dq=Waylon%20Jennings%20KLLL&pg=PT167 156]}} Jennings felt limited by Nashville's lack of artistic freedom.{{sfn|Petrusich|2008|p=[https://archive.org/details/itstillmoveslost00petr_0/page/105 <!-- quote=waylon jennings Nashville sound. --> 105]}}

=== Outlaw country ===
By 1972, after the release of ''Ladies Love Outlaws'', his recording contract was nearing an end. Upon contracting [[hepatitis]], Jennings was hospitalized. Sick and frustrated with the Nashville music industry, he was considering retirement. Albright visited him and convinced him to continue, suggesting he hire Neil Reshen as his new manager. Meanwhile, Jennings requested a $25,000 royalty advance from RCA Records to cover his living expenses during his recovery. The same day he met Reshen, RCA sent Jerry Bradley to offer Jennings $5,000 as a bonus for signing a new 5% royalty deal with RCA, the same terms he had accepted in 1965. After reviewing the offer with Reshen, he rejected it and hired Reshen.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|pp=182–186}}

[[File:Kris Willie Waylon.jpg|thumb|left|L–R: [[Kris Kristofferson]], [[Willie Nelson]], and Jennings at the [[Dripping Springs Reunion]], in 1972.]]
Reshen started to renegotiate Jennings's recording and touring contracts. At a meeting in a Nashville airport Jennings introduced Reshen to Willie Nelson. By the end of the meeting Reshen had become Nelson's manager as well. Jennings's new deal included a $75,000 advance and artistic control.{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|pp=187–192}}{{sfn|Petrusich|2008|p=[https://archive.org/details/itstillmoveslost00petr_0/page/106 <!-- quote=waylon jennings Nashville sound. --> 106]}} Reshen advised Jennings to keep the beard that he had grown in the hospital, to match the image of outlaw country.{{sfn|Larkin|1995|p=2159}}{{sfn|Lewis|1993|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8_afNI8SL6UC&dq=Neil%20reshen%22%20willie%20nelson%20waylon&pg=PA169 169]}}{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=266}}

By 1973 Nelson found success with [[Atlantic Records]]. Now based in [[Austin, Texas]], he began to attract rock and roll fans to his shows, which gained him notice in its press.{{sfn|Reid|Sahm|2010|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=1gry61absiEC&dq=armadillo+world+headquarters+willie+nelson&pg=PA79 79]}}{{sfn|Reid|2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=qCDF5fFuBT8C&dq=Willie%27s+RCA+contract+guaranteed&pg=PA224 224]}} Atlantic Records made a bid to sign Jennings, but Nelson's rise to popularity persuaded RCA to renegotiate with him before losing another potential star.{{sfn|Petrusich|2008|p=106}}

In 1973, Jennings released ''[[Lonesome, On'ry and Mean]]'' and ''[[Honky Tonk Heroes]]'', the first albums recorded and released under his creative control. This heralded a major turning point for Jennings, resulting in his most critically and commercially successful years.{{sfn|Wolff|Duane|2000|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=3Jorozp1yp4C&dq=Lonesome%2C%20On'ry%20and%20Mean%20and%20Honky%20Tonk%20Heroes&pg=PA340 340]}} More hit albums followed with ''[[This Time (Waylon Jennings album)|This Time]]'' and ''[[The Ramblin' Man]]'', both released in 1974. The title tracks of both albums topped the ''Billboard'' Country singles chart, with the self-penned "This Time" becoming Jennings's first no. 1 single. ''[[Dreaming My Dreams (Waylon Jennings album)|Dreaming My Dreams]]'', released in 1975, included the no. 1 single "[[Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way]]", and became his first album to be certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]; it was also the first of six consecutive solo studio albums to be certified gold or higher.{{sfn|Wolff|Duane|2000|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=3Jorozp1yp4C&dq=Lonesome%2C%20On'ry%20and%20Mean%20and%20Honky%20Tonk%20Heroes&pg=PA340 340]}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-ramblin-man-r107198/review|author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas |title=The Ramblin' Man&nbsp;– Overview|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=October 24, 2011}}</ref> In 1976 Jennings released ''[[Are You Ready for the Country]]''. Jennings wanted Los Angeles producer [[Ken Mansfield]] to produce the record, but RCA initially balked. Jennings and the Waylors traveled to Los Angeles and recorded with Mansfield at Jennings's own expense. A month later, Jennings returned to Nashville and presented the master tape to [[Chet Atkins]], who, after listening to it, decided to release it. The album reached number 1 ''Billboard''{{'}}s country albums three times the same year, topping the charts for 10 weeks. It was named country album of the year in 1976 by ''[[Record World]]'' magazine and was certified gold by the [[RIAA]].<ref>Mansfield, Ken; pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Je7C3JHRs7UC&dq=%22Are+You+Ready+for+the+Country%22+waylon&pg=PA171 171], [https://books.google.com/books?id=Je7C3JHRs7UC&dq=%22Are+You+Ready+for+the+Country%22+waylon&pg=PA172 172]</ref>

{{Listen|filename=Luckenbach, Texas Waylon Jennings.ogg|title="Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)"|description= A hit for Jennings, the song was released in the album ''Ol' Waylon''}}

In 1976, RCA released the compilation album ''[[Wanted! The Outlaws]]'', with Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, and Jennings's wife, Jessi Colter. The album was the first country music album certified [[RIAA certification|platinum]].{{sfn|Carr|Munde|1997|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=6Q2QhJf4jR0C&dq=Waylon%20Jennings%20KLLL&pg=PT167 156]}} The following year, RCA issued ''[[Ol' Waylon]]'', an album that produced a hit duet with Nelson, "[[Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)|Luckenbach, Texas]]".{{sfn|Huang|p=325|1999}} The album ''[[Waylon and Willie]]'' followed in 1978, producing the hit single "[[Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys]]".{{sfn|Wishart|2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=rtRFyFO4hpEC&dq=waylon%20%26%20Willie%201978%20Mammas%20Don't%20Let%20Your%20Babies%20Grow%20Up%20to%20Be%20Cowboys&pg=PA541 54]}} Jennings released ''[[I've Always Been Crazy]]'', also in 1978.{{sfn|Kingsbury2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=v4GQDYx_RnkC&dq=greatest%20hits%20I've%20always%20been%20crazy%20waylon&pg=PA612 612]}} The same year, at the peak of his success, Jennings began to feel limited by the outlaw movement.{{sfn|Lewis|1993|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8_afNI8SL6UC&dq=waylon%20jennings%20outlaw%20image&pg=PA169 169]}} Jennings referred to the overexploitation of the image in the song "[[Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand]]?", claiming that the movement had become a "self-fulfilling prophecy".{{sfn|Lewis|1993|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8_afNI8SL6UC&dq=waylon%20jennings%20outlaw%20image&pg=PA169 169]}}{{sfn|Schäfer|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=cSqjy9rCjvoC&dq=waylon+jennings+outlaw+image&pg=PA60 60]|2012}} In 1979, RCA released Jennings first ''[[Greatest Hits (Waylon Jennings album)|Greatest Hits]]'' compilation,{{sfn|Kingsbury2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=v4GQDYx_RnkC&dq=greatest%20hits%20I've%20always%20been%20crazy%20waylon&pg=PA612 612]}} which was certified gold the same year, and quintuple platinum in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=waylon+jennings&ti=Greatest+hits&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section|title=RIAA Searchable Database|work=RIAA.com|publisher=The Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref>

Also in 1979, Jennings joined the cast of the [[CBS]] series ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]]'' as the Balladeer, the narrator. The only episode to feature him as an actor was "[[List of The Dukes of Hazzard episodes#Season 7 (1984–1985) – 17 episodes|Welcome, Waylon Jennings]]", during the seventh season. Jennings played himself, presented as an old friend of the Duke family. For the show he also wrote and sang the theme song "[[Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)|Good Ol' Boys]]", which became the biggest hit of his career. Released as a single in promotion with the show, it became Jennings's 12th single to reach number one on the ''Billboard'' Country Singles chart. It was also a crossover hit, peaking at no. 21 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.{{sfn|Kingsbury2004|p=612}}

=== Later years ===
[[File:Waylon Jennings 1.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Jennings in concert, playing his custom 1953 Fender Telecaster]]
In the mid-1980s, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Jennings formed a successful group called [[The Highwaymen (country supergroup)|the Highwaymen]].<ref>{{harvnb|Seal|2011|p=141}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=iteuvr3s2jgC&dq=the%20highwayman%20waylon&pg=PA141 View page]</ref> Aside from his work with the Highwaymen, Jennings released a gold album ''[[WWII (album)|WWII]]'' (1982) with Willie Nelson.{{sfn|Wishart|2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=rtRFyFO4hpEC&dq=waylon%20%26%20Willie%201978%20Mammas%20Don't%20Let%20Your%20Babies%20Grow%20Up%20to%20Be%20Cowboys&pg=PA541 54]}}

In 1985, Jennings joined with [[USA for Africa]] to record "[[We Are the World]]", but he left the studio because of a dispute over the song's lyrics that were to be sung in [[Swahili language|Swahili]].{{sfn|Breskin|2004|p=6}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/waylon-jennings-walked-out-we-are-the-world/|title=Waylon Jennings&nbsp;-Biography|work=Taste of Country|author=Whitaker, Sterling|date=January 28, 2021 }}</ref> By this time, his sales had decreased. After the release of ''[[Sweet Mother Texas]]'', Jennings signed with [[Music Corporation of America|MCA Records]].<ref name="AM">{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/artist/waylon-jennings-p1663/biography|title=Waylon Jennings&nbsp;– Biography|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas}}</ref> His debut release with the label, ''[[Will the Wolf Survive]]'' (1985), peaked at number one in ''Billboard's'' Country albums in 1986.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/waylon-jennings/chart-history/clp/|title=Waylon Jennings Chart History – Top Country Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref> Jennings's initial success tailed off, and in 1990, he signed with [[Epic Records]]. His first release, ''[[The Eagle (album)|The Eagle]]'', became his final top 10 album.<ref name="AM" />{{sfn|Clarke|1998|p=648}}

Also in 1985, he made a cameo appearance in the live-action children's film ''[[Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird]]''. In the movie, he plays a turkey farm truck driver who gives [[Big Bird]] a lift. He also sings one of the film's songs, entitled "Ain't No Road Too Long".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dodero |first=Camille |date=October 8, 2016 |title=From 'Rubber Duckie' to One Direction (but please, no Eminem): Questlove, Big Bird (!) and the creators of Sesame Street reveal the secrets behind the legendary show's music--stay away from controversial artists--which has yielded viral videos and a lawsuit from The Beatles. |volume=128 |pages=48 |magazine=Billboard |issue=25}}</ref> In 1993, in collaboration with Rincom Children's Entertainment, Jennings recorded an album of children's songs, ''[[Cowboys, Sisters, Rascals & Dirt]]'', which included "Shooter's Theme", a tribute to his 14-year-old with the theme of "a friend of mine".{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|1996|p=370}}

As his record sales and radio play declined through the 1990s, Jennings continued to draw large crowds to his live performances.<ref name="AM" /> In 1994 Jennings made a small appearance in the movie ''Maverick'', with Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, and James Garner.

In 1996, Jennings released his album, ''[[Right for the Time]]''. In 1997, after the ''[[Lollapalooza]]'' tour, he decreased his tour schedule to focus on his family.{{sfn|Birk|2005|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=db7uwE2_lJ8C&dq=Cowboys%2C+Sisters%2C+Rascals+and+Dirt+waylon+jennings&pg=PA71 71]}} In 1998, Jennings teamed up with Bare, [[Jerry Reed]], and [[Mel Tillis]] to form the [[Old Dogs (group)|Old Dogs]]. The group recorded a double album of songs by [[Shel Silverstein]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p352588|title=Old Dogs|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=October 25, 2011|author=Ankeny, Jason}}</ref>

In mid-1999, Jennings assembled what he referred to as his "hand-picked dream team" and formed Waylon & the Waymore Blues Band. Consisting primarily of former Waylors, the 13-member group performed concerts from 1999 to 2001.{{sfn|George-Warren|Romanowski|Pareles|2001|p=492}} As his health declined, Jennings decided to end his touring career.<ref>{{cite news|author=Whitaker, Sterling|date=February 13, 2020|title=Remember When Waylon Jennings Gave His Final Performance?|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/waylon-jennings-final-performance/|access-date=May 5, 2021}}</ref> In January 2000, Jennings recorded what became his final album at Nashville's [[Ryman Auditorium]], ''[[Never Say Die: Live]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452290/country-legend-waylon-jennings-dies-at-64.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928091829/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452290/country-legend-waylon-jennings-dies-at-64.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 28, 2013|title=Country Music Outlaw Waylon Jennings Dies at 64|date=February 13, 2002|author=D'Angelo, Joe|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=October 25, 2011}}</ref>