Country Outlaw Waylon Jennings Dies

Leather-voiced country music icon Waylon Jennings, 64, died Wednesday at his home in Chandler, Ariz., after a long battle with diabetes-related health problems, according to news reports. As a singer, songwriter and guitarist since the ’50s (when he played bass for Buddy Holly), Jennings recorded 60 albums and had 16 No. 1 country singles. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October. Though his image, with his rebellious songs and brash attitude, was that of an outlaw, fellow artists had great respect and affection for him. “Waylon Jennings was an American archetype, the bad guy with a big heart,” Kris Kristofferson told The New York Times. “Waylon was a dear friend, one of the very best of 35 years,” said Johnny Cash, who recorded and toured with Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kristofferson as The Highwaymen. “I’ll miss him immensely,” Cash, 69, told the Associated Press. Emmylou Harris, 54, said Jennings “had a voice and a way with a song like no one else . . . He was also a class act as an artist and a man.” In the ’70s, with Nelson, Jennings performed such duets as “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” “Luckenbach” and “Good Hearted Woman.” Other hit singles included “I’m a Ramblin’ Man,” “Amanda,” “Lucille,” “I’ve Always Been Crazy” and “Rose in Paradise.” He also narrated and delivered the title song to the TV show “The Dukes of Hazard.” Throughout his lengthy professional life, however, Jennings refused to bend to the rules of Nashville. As quoted by The New York Times, he once said, “As long as you are honest and upfront with me, I will be the same with you. But I still do things my way.” He is survived by his fourth wife, Jessi Colter, and their son, Shooter.