Waymore's Outlaws
Waymore's Outlaws | |
---|---|
Waylon Jennings and the Waylors at the Rocky Gap festival in 1991 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
Genres | Country |
Years active | 1961 (1961)–1999, 2008–present |
Members | Jerry Bridges (1980–present) Fred Newell (1996–present) Tommy Townsend (2008–present) |
Past members | Waylon Jennings (1961–2002) Richie Albright (1961–2021) Jerry Gropp (1961–1984) Ralph Mooney (1970–1996) Johnny Gimble (1976–2002) Wayne Moss Paul Foster Rance Wasson (1980–2002) Gordon Payne (1980–2002) Cliff Robertson (1980–2002) Carter Robertson (1980–2002) Reggie Young Barney Robertson Rick Gilbreath Billy Ray Reynolds (1970–1976) |
Website | waymoresoutlaws |
The Waylors, later Waymore's Outlaws, is a country music band, best known as the backing and recording band of country music singer Waylon Jennings. Jennings formed the band in 1961, consisting of Jerry Gropp on the guitar and Richie Albright on the drums after moving to Phoenix, Arizona. The band earned a local fan base during its appearances on the night club JD's.
In 1965 RCA Records signed Jennings to a contract. The conservative restrictions of the producers of the label did not allow him to record with the Waylors, due to the Nashville custom of the time using session musicians instead of a performer's backup band. In 1972 he renegotiated his contract, and he included the Waylors for the first time on a RCA album in Honky Tonk Heroes. The lineup was expanded during the next decade, they backed Jennings until his death in 2002.
Reformed in 2008, the group performs on its own with Tommy Townsend as their lead vocalist, with occasional performances as the band for Albright's namesake, Waylon Albright "Shooter" Jennings, the son of Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter.
Background
Waylon Jennings was managed at the beginning of his career by Buddy Holly's first manager, 'Hi-Pockets' Duncan. On Duncan's recommendation, Holly hired Jennings to play electric bass for him during his "Winter Dance Party Tour" in 1959.[1] After a show in Clear Lake, Iowa, Holly chartered a plane for himself, Allsup and Jennings to avoid a long bus trip to Fargo, North Dakota. This is because the tour organizers provided very inadequate transportation & the buses broke down in freezing weather. Jennings gave up his seat to J. P. Richardson, who was suffering from a cold and complaining about how uncomfortable a long bus trip was for a man of his size.[2] During the early morning hours of February 3, 1959, later known as The Day the Music Died, the charter crashed outside Clear Lake, killing all on board.[3] Jennings and Allsup continued the tour for two more weeks, featuring Jennings as the lead singer.[1] When the tour ended, he returned to his DJ spot on KLLL and performed regionally.[4]
Phoenix and the Nashville sound
In 1961, Jennings lived briefly in Coolidge, Arizona working in radio, before moving to Phoenix, where he formed The Waylors, consisting of Jerry Gropp on the guitar and Richie Albright on the drums.[5] Jennings and his band performed at a newly opened nightspot called JD's. The band earned a small fan base, eventually signing with the independent label Trend Records. In 1963, Jennings signed a contract with A&M Records.[5][6] Jennings and The Waylors recorded an album on BAT called Waylon at JD's.[7] Singer Bobby Bare, who covered Ian Tyson's "Four Strong Winds" and Jennings' "Just To Satisfy You", recommended Jennings to producer Chet Atkins, who signed Jennings to RCA Victor in 1965.[8]
Jennings was accustomed to performing and recording with his own band, The Waylors, a practice that was discouraged or forbidden by powerful Nashville producers. Over time, however, Jennings felt limited by the Nashville sound's lack of artistic freedom.[9] The music style publicized as "Countrypolitan" was characterized by orchestral arrangements, and the absence (or minor use) of traditional country music instruments.[5] By 1972 he renegotiated his contract with RCA, that gave him complete creative control over his works. [10] For the recording session, Jennings replaced the typical studio musicians of Nashville sessions with his band.[11][12][13]
Later years
By the 1980s the lineup included the additions of Ralph Mooney from The Strangers, Johnny Gimble, Rance Wasson, Gordon Payne, Jerry Bridges, Barney Robertson and Carter Robertson.[14]
Mooney retired in 1996 and was initially replaced by Fred Newell, an established Nashville studio player, followed by Robby Turner, who Waylon first worked with as part of the Highwaymen touring band. The band backed Jennings until 1999 when he formed a short-time project, The Waymore Blues Band, which was Jennings' "hand-picked dream team." Waymore Blues Band backed him until his death.
Now known as Waymore's Outlaws, the band continues today, with Tommy Townsend as lead guitar and vocalist. In 2014, the Outlaws came full circle by playing with Waylon's son and Richie Albright's namesake Waylon Albright "Shooter" Jennings for the first time on tour.[15]
References
- ^ a b Carr & Munde 1997, p. 155.
- ^ Texas Monthly, January 1988; p.108
- ^ Everitt 2004, p. 18,19.
- ^ Dansby, Andrew (February 14, 2002). "Waylon Jennings Dead at Sixty-four". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
- ^ a b c Carr & Munde 1997, p. 156.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Waylon Jennings – Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation.
- ^ Country Music Foundation; p.53
- ^ Wolff 2000, p. 360.
- ^ Petrusich 2008, p. 105.
- ^ Petrusich 2008, p. 106.
- ^ Shaver & Reagan 2005, p. 35.
- ^ Reid 1976, p. 213.
- ^ Glaser 2011, p. 148.
- ^ "Talent in Action". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 20, 1980.
- ^ Whitaker, Sterling (January 3, 2014). "Shooter Jennings Touring With Waylon's Band, Waymore's Outlaws". The Boot.
Bibliography
- Carr, Joseph; Munde, Alan (1997). Prairie Nights to Neon Lights: The Story of Country Music in West Texas. Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 978-0-89672-365-8.
- Everitt, Rich (2004). Falling Stars: Air Crashes That Filled Rock and Roll Heaven. Harbor House. ISBN 978-1-891799-04-4.
- Glaser, Dennis (2011). Music City's Defining Decade: Stories, Stars, Songwriters & Scoundrels of the 1970s. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 978-1-4628-5767-8.[self-published source]
- Petrusich, Amanda (2008). It Still Moves: Lost Songs, Lost Highways, and the Search for the Next American Music. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-86547-950-0.
- Reid, Jan (1976). "Who Killed Redneck Rock?". Texas Monthly. 4 (12). Emmis Communications. ISSN 0148-7736.
- Shaver, Billy Joe; Reagan, Brad (2005). Honky Tonk Hero. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-70613-2.
- Wolff, Kurt (2000). Duane, Orla (ed.). Country Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85828-534-4.
External links
- Official website of the current band
- Waymore's Outlaws discography at Discogs
- Waymore's Outlaws at IMDb
- v
- t
- e
- Waylon at JD's
- Folk-Country
- Leavin' Town
- Nashville Rebel
- Waylon Sings Ol' Harlan
- Love of the Common People
- The One and Only
- Hangin' On
- Only the Greatest
- Jewels
- Just to Satisfy You
- Waylon
- Singer of Sad Songs
- The Taker/Tulsa
- Cedartown, Georgia
- Good Hearted Woman
- Ladies Love Outlaws
- Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
- Honky Tonk Heroes
- This Time
- The Ramblin' Man
- Dreaming My Dreams
- Are You Ready for the Country
- Ol' Waylon
- I've Always Been Crazy
- What Goes Around Comes Around
- Music Man
- Black on Black
- It's Only Rock + Roll
- Waylon and Company
- Never Could Toe the Mark
- Turn the Page
- Sweet Mother Texas
- Will the Wolf Survive
- Hangin' Tough
- A Man Called Hoss
- Full Circle
- The Eagle
- Too Dumb for New York City, Too Ugly for L.A.
- Ol' Waylon Sings Ol' Hank
- Cowboys, Sisters, Rascals & Dirt
- Waymore's Blues (Part II)
- Right for the Time
- Closing In on the Fire
- Waylon Forever
- Goin' Down Rockin': The Last Recordings
- Waylon Live
- Never Say Die: Live
- Live from Austin, TX
- Never Say Die: The Final Concert
- "Stop the World (And Let Me Off)"
- "The Chokin' Kind"
- "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line"
- "The Days of Sand and Shovels"
- "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"
- "Under Your Spell Again" with Jessi Colter
- "Good Hearted Woman"
- "Sweet Dream Woman"
- "You Can Have Her"
- "We Had It All"
- "You Ask Me To"
- "This Time"
- "I'm a Ramblin' Man"
- "Rainy Day Woman"
- "Dreaming My Dreams with You"
- "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way"
- "Bob Wills Is Still the King"
- "Can't You See"
- "Are You Ready for the Country"
- "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)"
- "I've Always Been Crazy"
- "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand"
- "Amanda"
- "Come With Me"
- "I Ain't Living Long Like This"
- "Clyde"
- "Good Ol' Boys"
- "Shine"
- "Just to Satisfy You" with Willie Nelson
- "Women Do Know How to Carry On"
- "Lucille (You Won't Do Your Daddy's Will)"
- "Hold On, I'm Comin'" with Jerry Reed
- "The Conversation" with Hank Williams Jr.
- "I May Be Used (But Baby I Ain't Used Up)"
- "Never Could Toe the Mark"
- "America"
- "Waltz Me to Heaven"
- "Drinkin' and Dreamin'"
- "Working Without a Net"
- "Will the Wolf Survive"
- "What You'll Do When I'm Gone"
- "The Broken Promise Land"
- "Rose in Paradise"
- "My Rough and Rowdy Days"
- "If Ole Hank Could Only See Us Now"
- "How Much Is It Worth to Live in L.A."
- "Which Way Do I Go (Now That I'm Gone)"
- "Wrong"
- "Where Corn Don't Grow"
- "The Eagle"
Waylon & Willie | |
| |
Other collaborations | |
| |
Collaboration singles | |
|
- The Best of Waylon Jennings
- Don't Think Twice
- Heartaches by the Number
- Greatest Hits
- Waylon's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
- The Best of Waylon
- 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Waylon Jennings
- RCA Country Legends
- Ultimate Waylon Jennings
- 16 Biggest Hits
- Nashville Rebel
- The Waylors/Waymore's Outlaws
- Outlaw country
- Wanted! The Outlaws
- "We Are the World"
- The Highwaymen
- Old Dogs
- Jessi Colter
- Waylon Albright "Shooter" Jennings
- Buddy Holly
- The Day the Music Died