Waylon Arnold Jennings (6/15/1937-2/13/2002) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as one of the founding pioneers of the Outlaw Movement in country music.

Waylon Jenning's genre included Country, outlaw country, blues, and country rock. He played guitar and was a vocalist. His associated acts included Jessie Colter, (whom he married 1969), Willie Nelson, The Highwaymen, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr. and Buddy Holly, among many others.

In 1958, Buddy Holly arranged Jenning's first recording session, and hired him to play bass. Jenning gave up his seat on the ill-fated flight in 1959 that crashed and killed Holly, and Ritchie Valens and others.

After he moved to RCA Victor he gained creative control and released, "Lonesome On'ry and Mean" which was met with critical acclaim.

During the 1970s, Jennings became one of the main figures of outlaw country. With Willey Nelson (4/29/1933), and Jessi Colter (5/25/1943) he recorded country music's first platinum album, "Wanted! The Outlaws". It was followed by "Ol' Wylon and the hit song "Luckenbach Texas".

Decades of excessive smoking and drug abuse took a large toll on Jenning's health in addition to being overweight and having a poor diet which resulted in his developing Type ll diabetes.

In 2001, Waylon was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Jenning's died in his sleep in 2002 from complications of diabetes at 64 years of age at his home in Arizona.

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