Waylon Jennings Biographical Essay Example

Introduction

Waylon Jennings, a legendary country singer, left a legacy that will live on for many generations. Waylon, a music lover from the age of eight, started his career as a disc jockey on various Texas radio stations. In the 1960s, he formed his first rock band, The Waylors. By the 1970s, he was a member of the Outlaw movement, which led him to work with Willie Nelson, one of the pioneers of the genre.

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Waylon Jennings was a huge success in the 1970s. His 1976 album Wanted! His 1976 album, Wanted!, which featured many country stars, was the first country album that went platinum. Waylon's success continued into the 80s, but his health problems and addiction to cocaine caused him to drop off. Waylon Jennings has released 45 studio albums, 49 other albums, 28 compilation albums, and 16 collaborations over the course of his career. His albums have been sold more than 20 million worldwide.

Causes of death

Waylon's death can be dated back to the mid-1960s, when he developed a cocaine addiction. He suffered from a severe cocaine addiction that grew over the years, resulting in financial ruin. Waylon used to spend up to $1,500 per week on cocaine and other amphetamines. He soon accumulated a $2.5million drug debt, which he had been forced to pay off. Waylon also smoked 6 packs of cigarettes a day. Waylon quit smoking cigarettes in the middle of the 1980s and began to detoxify. He also planned to use cocaine occasionally.

After his habits began to show on his health, Waylon began to clean up his life. In 1988, he had a heart bypass procedure and was later diagnosed with diabetes in the 1990s. Waylon's health deteriorated during the new millennium, and he had to have a second leg surgery. Jennings' foot had to be amputated in December 2001. Waylon Jennings died in his sleep on February 13, 2002. He was 64 years of age. Two days later, he was laid to rest in the City of Mesa Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona. Many country music stars graced the funeral.

Waylon Jennings Wife, Son (Children)

Waylon Jennings was married four times, and had 6 children from his wife. From October 26, 1969 to his death, he was married to Jessi Colter, a country singer. Colter was at the height of his drug addiction and close to divorce Waylon. However, she changed her mind years later and let death take them apart.

Jessi Colter is a Phoenix native. She was born Mirriam Johnson on May 25, 1943. Colter, the daughter of a race car driver father and a preacher mother, was raised in strict Pentecostal families. Colter began playing the piano at her church when she was 11 years old and continued to develop her musical talents. She fell in love with music and met Duane Eddy, an ace guitarist whom she was married to in 1961. After seven years of marriage, she began to make music with Eddy. They divorced in 1968. Thye and Eddy had one child together, Jennifer. In 1969, she met Waylon Jennings and they were married. After marrying Waylon, Colter's musical career, which had been stalled for many years, began to take shape. After meeting Waylon, Colter adopted the stage name Jessi Colter in memory of Jesse Colter, her great-grandfather.

Colter, along with Waylon, enjoyed much success in the 1970s. Her country-pop hit "I'm Not Lisa", which she released in 1975, is her most well-known. Colter published a memoir in April 2017 about her relationship with Waylon. "An Outlaw, a Lady" is the title of Colter's memoir.

Shooter Jennings

Waylon and Colter had one son together. He was named Waylon Albright "Shooter", and was born May 19, 1979. Shooter is following in his father's footsteps and making music in the outlaw-country genre. At least eight studio albums have been released by him. Shooter is the father of two children from a long-term relationship with Drea de Matteo, an actress. He wed Misty Brooke Swain June 4, 2013.

Waylon has five other children from previous marriages: Terry Vance Jennings, Julie Rae Jennings, Buddy Dean Jennings, Buddy Dean Jennings and Deana Jennings. All of these were born to Maxine Caroll Lauren. He had an adopted child named Tomi Lynne from his second marriage to Lynne Jones.

Height

Waylon Jennings' tall stature was his most prominent physical characteristic. He was just over 6 feet tall. He weighed in at 80 kilograms. Waylon was average-built and had dark-brown hair. He was a brown-eyed man.