Waylong Jennings has Passed Away
 

Waylon, age 64, passed away today due to complications from diabetes. He will be greatly missed. :(

Waylong?... His greatest contributuion was the Dukes of Hazard intro song, its a classic. He will be missed.

This is really really bad. I really hate that he died, I dont think he ever wrote a song that doesnt bring back some kind of memory to me..........

Damn

I think "Back to the Basics of Love (Lukenbach, Texas)" was my favorite. I'd say his death will send shockwaves through every KA chapter......

They had a tribute to him this evening at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Having been to Willie's 4th of July BBQ and Party In Luckenback many times, (along with 50K other of his good friends) and having seen WJ perform, I am deeply saddend.

I swear I wont be able to handle it when the man in black goes...

Fulsom Prison Blues.... A boy named sue...

I heard this on the radio today; it is so sad. He was an awesome song writer/entertainer. He will be greatly missed.

That's ironic (and sad) it's an example of "We were just talking about him." on the Recommendations thread.

Lived his life to the "fullest", that's for sure.

I've been humming "Lukenbach, Texas" for about the past week because I just directed a TV show with Willie last Friday.

Unless my feeble old mind is playing tricks on me, Waylon cheated death "The Day the Music Died." As a member of the "Crickets," I think he was supposed to be on the plane with Buddy Holly, JP Richardson (The Big Bopper) and Richie Valens wasn't he?

Now, what a shock.

DeltAlum, You're right. On Fox, they had an interview with...SOMEONE...who said they flipped a coin with Buddy Holly and got stuck on the bus. He jokingly replied I hope ya'll die! He never got over that comment. They also said that even though he had his share of problems(cocaine and drinking) he had a huge heart and was a giving person.


I've been humming "Lukenbach, Texas" for about the past week because I just directed a TV show with Willie last Friday.
WOW! Can you share some more about this? Sounds GREAT!
Do they have a schedule for a showing yet? YOU HAVE GOT TO LET US KOW!!!!

Very sad...
 

So sorry to hear about Waylon. I saw the news on CNN the evening he died, and immediately called my brother (the KA) and my dad to let them know. I grew up listening to him and Willie because my dad and uncle had every album! :(

As for Waylon cheating death (concerning the Buddy Holly plane crash), from what I understand, the Big Bopper was sick and didn't want to travel on the tour bus, so Waylon gave him his seat on the plane at the last minute and took the bus instead.


He will be sorely missed.

JAM,

Not a big deal. There's a small cable network called "Great American Country" which originates a show called "Behind the Scenes" or something like that. When country acts come through Denver, they usually try to shoot a show with them and often hire me as a freelancer to direct them. That day we did a show with Willie and one with the Bellamy Brothers.

It's a combination of live (to tape) interviews, music videos and a live (to tape) performance if the artist will agree.

What was interesting is that everyone was uptight that Willie would be hard to get along with. (That is his recent reputation, I guess) But he agreed to perform, and then stood around in the studio and chatted and signed autographs for 30-45 minutes after the show. He was a perfect gentleman. Couldn't have been nicer or more cooperative.

DZ, I'm not sure which was ill, but I believe you're correct about the circumstances that kept Waylon off the airplane.

DeltAlum, You are too modest! That's a heck of a lot closer to fame than any of us will ever get...Well wasn't it Amycat who got to hang out with Bon Jovi? Now there's a run for your money.

JAM,

Well, I admit the show is fun to do. I've found that country artists are, for the most part, consumate profesionals and pretty nice folks.

I guess after 35 years or so of TV it's just in a day's work.

Unfortunately, I never met Waylon Jennings. My mother gave me an appreciation of Country Music way back to the Patsy Cline era -- although I grew up pretty much a 60's rocker.

My most memorable experience, though, was directing a Papal Mass and a Papal Prayer Vigil world pool feed with about 450,000 people in the middle of a state park a few years ago, although I didn't meet him.

It was an interesting project for a Presbyterian.