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March 2017




  

Waylon:
Tales Of My Outlaw Dad
By Terry Jennings
Book Review By: Lisa Lunney


"This book is a terrific tribute, from a son to his father."---Willie Nelson

"I'm so excited about Terry's new book."---Dolly Parton

From the Foreword by Ken Mansfield

"There are many stories about Waylon . . . the family man, the creative genius man, the quiet man, the king-of-the-six-day-roar-man, the uncommon man, the legendary man, the bad-ass man . . . they are all in this book."

In a signed copy of his autobiography, Texas-born country "Outlaw" icon Waylon Jennings penned a personal note to his son Terry: "I did my best. Now it's your turn." Two decades later, Terry Jennings finally completes the true story of his father's remarkable, unvarnished life with Waylon: Tales of My Outlaw Dad.

Born when Waylon was only nineteen, Terry came of age just as Waylon's career hit the stratosphere with hits like "I've Always Been Crazy" and "Good Hearted Woman," one of his famous Willie Nelson duets. Terry dropped out of high school and joined his dad on tour, and the two became more like brothers than father and son. On the road, they toured with legends like Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and Jessi Colter, Waylon's fourth and final wife. Together father and son led a hard-partying lifestyle centered around music, women, and drugs.

Waylon's success--critical acclaim, bestselling albums, sold-out tours, and even TV stardom on The Dukes of Hazzard--was at times eclipsed by his demons, three divorces, crippling debt, and a depression that Terry traces to the premature death of Buddy Holly. (Waylon was supposed to be on Holly and Ritchie Valens's doomed flight.) Through it all, Terry worked on the touring crew, helped manage Waylon's career, and became one of his father's closest confidantes. Debunking myths and sharing incredible never-before-told stories, this book is a son's loving and strikingly honest portrait of his father, "the greatest Outlaw country musician to grace this earth" and an unlikely but devoted family man. Waylon: Tales of My Outlaw Dad will resonate for generations of fans.

I am not usually one to gravitate towards country music, or collections about country musicians. However, I will forever hold a special place in my heart to the Highway Men. Some of the original outlaws in the music industry. As Casey Orr (GWAR and Ministry) told Punk Globe, Johnny Cash was the original punk. Therefore, it is only right that his band of misfits go down in history alongside him as some of the greatest rebels.

It is always shocking to learn the amount of drugs some of the musical greats dabbled in. That was one of the very first things in the book that made me say, wow. I truly love that this book was written by Jennings son, Terry. It brings everything to a whole new level of personal stories, including both heartwarming and not so pleasant. The balance between good and bad is what makes this book effective. It wouldn’t be true if it was all peachy, life is rough—especially the life of an outlaw.

We learn the unconventional ways in which Waylon raised his children, some very comedic. This book brings Waylon back to life, and for a while fans can rejoice in his life almost as though he were still with us…

Fun fact I learned?
Shooter Jennings, Waylon and Jessi’s only child, had two godfathers: Johnny Cash and Muhammad Ali.

Check it out. You won’t be dissappointed.