Kris u0026amp; Waylon / Kris Kristofferson u0026amp; Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings was lost to the world 15 years ago this month.
Kris often talks about that rear view mirror that we all have to look into at some point, u0026amp; ever more often as we get older. A man’s friends and foes often reveal a lot about them as a person. Waylon Jennings is a superstar in his own right.
Let’s take a look at what we know about his friendship with Kris Kristofferson.
Kris u0026amp; Waylon
Kris u0026amp; Waylon – Life u0026amp; Times
Waylon Arnold Jennings was born a Texan on 15 June 1937. Buddy Holly hired him to play bass, arranged his first recording session u0026amp; it was Waylon who gave up his seat (for Richardson/the Big Bopper) on that ‘plane that crashed in 1959 – ending the lives of Holly, Richardson u0026amp; Valens along with Peterson, the pilot.
- Waylon u0026amp; Kris both found their own way to Nashville.
- Both men found themselves in conflict with the recording industry (Waylon with Au0026amp;M over recording style)
- Both had trouble getting their music played on country radio stations
- Waylon u0026amp; Kris both appeared in movies. (Waylon in Nashville Rebel in ’66), u0026amp; in TV shows (Waylon in 2 episodes of the Dukes of Hazzard)
- Both men appeared in Outlaw Justice (’98), along with Willie Nelson
Waylon shared a flat with Johnny Cash who would later become Kris’ mentor.
- Waylon recorded Kris u0026amp; Silverstein’s song The Taker in ’71
Jennings was part of the Outlaw Country movement of the ’70s. He recorded with Willie Nelson (u0026amp; others) in ’76 on the album, Wanted! The Outlaws. This album was the first in country music to go Platinum.
- Like Kris (u0026amp; many other musicians of the time), Waylon battled with addiction. Cocaine u0026amp; amphetamines were Waylon’s monkeys. Kris used to drink heavily
- Both were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Waylon in 2001, Kris in 2004.
Waylon formed the Highwaymen along with Kris Kristofferson u0026amp; Willie Nelson after the 3 of them answered the call by Johnny Cash to appear in his Christmas Special in ’84. This inspired the supergroup that is now part of country music history.
Kristofferson reportedly told the Los Angeles Times (speaking of Waylon Jennings) that Waylon Jennings was an American archetype, the bad guy with the big heart.
Kris Kristofferson’s granddaughter, on the Highwaymen
Q: Did The Highwaymen have good personal relationships with each other?
A: My grandfather speaks very highly of the times he spent with Willie, Waylon, and John. When I’ve asked him questions about his time as a Highwayman he talks about all three of them with the utmost reverence. He’s said many times that he looked up to them and couldn’t believe that he got to stand beside them as peers.
That being said, going on the road and working that closely with anyone has its challenges and this band was no exception. They had differences that they had to work through, but at the end of the day, they all really appreciated working together. My grandpa and Willie are still best friends and hang out together whenever they can.
Waylon on Kris
Waylon said of Kris, “When I first met Kris Kristofferson he was really shy – In a loud sort of way”. You can hear this on the clip below where they sing Sunday Morning Coming Down together (1985 TV – The Door is Always Open)
Credits: HallofFame, Waylon , KrisonWaylon ,
The Clip is a 3.31 minute piece used here for educational purposes only. If you would like to watch the show please contact the owner. No copyright infringement is intended. Texas image is Public Domain here
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