Shooter Jennings Continues His Father’s Legacy

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Shooter Jennings is a renowned singer and musician, known for producing Grammy-winning albums for artists like Brandi Carlisle and Tanya Tucker. At Sunset Sound in Hollywood, a legendary studio where icons like Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac, and Prince recorded, Jennings is immersing himself in a deeply personal project.

Discussing his father brings tears to Jennings’ eyes. ‘I wear my emotions on my face all the time… I’m a crier,’ he admitted with a laugh. The emotional connection stems from Jennings’ father, Waylon Jennings, who was a defining figure in country music’s outlaw movement. With his distinctive voice, Waylon blended honkytonk, folk, and Southern rock to create a revolutionary sound. He achieved 16 number one hits, including ‘I’m a Rambling Man’, ‘Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys’, and the theme for ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’.

Shooter is preserving his father’s legacy by producing albums from long-lost material he discovered. Two albums, ‘Songbird’ and the upcoming ‘Diamonds’, are part of this endeavor. Speaking about unreleased tracks, Shooter noted, ‘It felt like he was having a conversation with the listener.’ This connection with the audience underscores the emotional essence of Waylon’s work.

Waylon’s journey began in a Texas town located between Lubbock and New Mexico. Shooter explained, ‘He wanted to get out of there so badly. It was so flat… like he says, if your dog ran away, you could watch him go for three days.’ Waylon’s aspirations to escape his hometown were fueled by his friendship with Buddy Holly. Holly encouraged Waylon to embrace music. Tragically, Holly’s death haunted Waylon, but he persevered, moved to Nashville, and became a star.

The ‘outlaw country’ genre, though initially a marketing tool in Nashville, represented Waylon’s quest for creative freedom. Shooter described the movement: ‘It was a way to package Waylon and Willie… calling it the outlaw movement.’ Waylon sought artistic control and integrity, inspiring others in Nashville to pursue independence.

Waylon was known for being uncompromising and controversial. During the ‘We Are the World’ recording, Waylon walked out, believing it wasn’t truly focused on helping children. Shooter recounted, ‘He said, ‘This isn’t about the kids… it’s about the look of this’.’ His principled stance even earned admiration from Paul Simon, who commended him for leaving the session.

Struggling with a drug habit, Waylon quit cold turkey in 1984, driven by his young son. Shooter recalled, ‘It bothered him, but he was a great dad.’ Waylon Jennings passed away in 2002 at 64. ‘Of course I miss him,’ said Shooter. ‘But if I get emotional, it’s because I feel how important this all is.’

The album ‘Diamonds’ will be released later this year. Shooter emphasized his mission: ‘I want everybody to know the guy I know. I’m in the studio, and I’m able to put this out there…’ His dedication to sharing his father’s legacy is unwavering.