Shooter Jennings’ Journey in Preserving Waylon Jennings’ Legacy

Shooter Jennings, a musician and Grammy-award-winning producer, is using the historic Sunset Sound studio in Hollywood to work on a personal project. Known for producing albums for artists like Brandi Carlisle and Tanya Tucker, Jennings finds this project deeply emotional. Discussing his father, Waylon Jennings, often brings tears to his eyes. ‘I wear my emotions on my face all the time anyway, so for everybody out there, I’m a crier,’ he admitted with a laugh.

Waylon Jennings, known for his black hat, beard, and baritone, played a leading role in the country music outlaw movement. His blend of honky-tonk, folk, and Southern rock produced hits like ‘I’m a Rambling Man,’ ‘Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,’ and ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ theme song. Waylon had 16 number one hits, establishing him as a country music icon.

Shooter continues his father’s legacy by releasing long-lost material. Two albums, ‘Songbird’ and the upcoming ‘Diamonds,’ showcase Waylon’s work. Shooter expressed pride in his father’s legacy and the opportunity to share it, saying, ‘Listening to the previously unreleased tracks felt like he was having a conversation with the listener.’

Waylon Jennings’ musical inspiration began in Texas, where Shooter believes his father developed his determination. Waylon, a teenage DJ, met Buddy Holly, who encouraged his musical career. They toured together before Holly’s tragic death in 1959.

Waylon moved to Nashville, transforming music by gaining creative freedom and independence, which benefited many artists. He was known for his principles, exiting the ‘We Are the World’ session due to a perceived focus on appearances rather than fundraising.

Shooter reflected on Waylon’s past struggles with drugs, noting that he quit in 1984, motivated by fatherhood. ‘It bothered him so much,’ Shooter said, acknowledging that his father quit when Shooter was a child, making him a great dad.

Waylon passed away in 2002 at 64. Shooter’s mission is to share his father’s true essence with the world. ‘Diamonds’ will release later this year, with Shooter determined for audiences to experience Waylon as he knew him.

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Shooter Jennings
Sunset Sound Studio, Hollywood, Calif.