After finally wrestling creative control from RCA Victor….Waylon Jennings career turning point became his critically acclaimed albums Lonesome, On’ry and Mean and Honky Tonk Heroes….which was followed by his hit LP’s Dreaming My Dreams and Are You Ready for the Country. During the 1970’s, Jennings was instrumental in the inception of outlaw country and with Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, and Jessi Colter….which was happening in an around Austin, Texas….when our Bone Daddy, the original Sportsphile, had his sports bar Madison Square Garden on 6th Street in downtown Austin…at which time they recorded country music’s first platinum album, Wanted! The Outlaws….after which was followed his album Ol’ Waylon….along with the hit song “Luckenbach, Texas”.
Jennings was featured in the 1978 album White Mansions, performed by various artists documenting the lives of people in the Confederacy during the Civil War. Jennings also appeared in films and television series, including Sesame Street, and a stint as the balladeer for The Dukes of Hazzard….while composing and singing the show’s theme song and providing narration for the show.
By the early 1980’s, Jennings struggled with a cocaine addiction, which he overcame in 1984….when later, he joined the country supergroup The Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash…..who released three albums between 1985 and 1995….plus, during that period, Jennings released the successful album Will the Wolf Survive.
He toured less after 1997 to spend more time with his family. Between 1999 and 2001, his appearances were limited by health problems. In 2001, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was posthumously awarded the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award by the Academy of Country Music.
In this video herewith…..Ol Waylon performs with Hank Williams Jr…..another byproduct of the outlaw country revolution started by Jennings…..as they sing The Music and The Man during the television special A Tribute To Hank Williams.
