Waylon Jennings: The Life and Legacy of a Country Music Icon

robert maslin: A warts and all account of a man who helped to change the face of country music .

United Kingdom on Sep 09, 2023

Brian Ploss: The book frankly hard to follow time-line. But if take this book as a sit on porch swinging watching the sun go down reminiscing, it is well worth the time.

United States on Aug 31, 2023

Kindle Customer: Waylon Jennings packed a lot into this book. The book not only has a lot about Waylon himself, but also a lot about what it's really like to be a country music performer. Waylon also has interesting stories about the people he has known. I am glad that I read it.

Country music isn't the same without Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.

United States on Aug 04, 2023

Steve: Awsome book

United States on Jul 17, 2023

John Pfriem: There is perhaps more of the man's personal rather than musical journey in this his autobiography, but an indispensable read for Waylon's fans nonetheless. A certain wry tone prevails throughout this book, which may explain why the net effect of his narrative is to thoroughly debunk the substance of Waylon Jennings' status as an "outlaw" of country music. He came into town (Nashville) with a major label record contract (RCA), entered the charts with a string of albums and singles, tipped a jar or two with the big names of country music, was held in high regard by his peers and won "industry" awards, was beloved across the land (except perhaps by the DEA and his ex-wives) as evidenced by his touring success, and had none other than John Cash for a roommate at one point. He wore a black hat and vest on stage but Waylon Jennings was no outlaw except perhaps to the marketing folks at RCA.

Canada on May 31, 2023

Sijui: I have been a Waylon fan since the early 1960s and have all his recordings, this autobiography is at times poignant and at other times funny. It is a very in depth account of one of the greatest Country Music singers, and was difficult to put down. It's a shame that it ends in 1995 seven years before his passing and does not cover the transition from having the Waylors backing him to the later Waymore Blues Band. I originally bought the Kindle edition but it is so good that I also bought the book as the pictures look better in that than on Kindle.

United Kingdom on Aug 22, 2022

William R. Woods: Sadly I only came across WJ fairly recently but for me he is the greatest C&W artist. I am tempted to go in for a lengthy review but will merely urge anybody interested in C&W or how the music industry operated to read it. It is not a conventially structured book & there are umpteen names & dates & places but this reflects his lifestyle. His life on the road & the hurt to his friends from his drug addiction I found gripping but he does not look for sympathy. And anybody who thinks we have poverty today would learn from the account of his early years.

United Kingdom on Nov 23, 2021

Chris: Wow! I didn’t want this book to end and already miss it! If you’re a fan of music or even just authenticity this is a must read! Loved Waylon before “Waylon”, love Waylon more after. The most insightful, funny, humble, engrossing, raw, honest, authentic, riveting autobiography I have read. Don’t think I’ll ever find anything like it again. His one of a kind voice jumps off the page. He does not shy away from any and all personal and professional triumphs and it reads like he’s talking to you. Not down to you. With you. Regrets, he’s had a few too but it’s an honest portrait of his life, his roles such as parent and choices. Many biographies are boring through the backstory and I’d rather read the phone book rather than endure the slog. Here, every stage of Waylon’s life is painted vividly from his modest West Texas upbringing to becoming the biggest (and still the best!) star to pay his dues in the honor tonks and reign over Nashville. And can you believe it still took him years to be able to make the music (!) he wanted when he got there?? It’s a heartbreaking (Buddy Holly backstory that will stay with you) and heartwarming (Jessi) nugget-filled (Elvis,...

United States on Jun 16, 2021

Sue Allen Milkovich: This is a no holds barred, HONEST truth from a man who couldn't do it any other way. Of course, I grew up listening to and being a big fan of this man. My Dad was an over the road truck driver. Reading about Waylon Jennings humble upbringing in Texas, reminded me sooo much of my Dad. Reading this book felt like I was sitting down with him, just listening to him. This hard working, determined, whatever it takes type of man, is dying off. He was the same age as my parents. They are a generation that is no more. This is the story of a man who climbed over, dug under or found the way around all obstacles in his way. He admits he was an unfaithful husband, neglectful father, and drug addict. But through this story he walks in his truth. The good, the bad and the horrendously ugly. He lived and he loved chasing the dream of writing and singing the music in his head. The music that kept time with the beat of his heart and his feet that couldn't stand still. He lost friends, left marriages and lost touch with his children. Not because he wanted too but because this was his journey in life. His life's work is what drove him and was the soundtrack of mine and millions of others lives. It...

United States on Jan 21, 2019

Mr. D. C. Shelley: This is the most straight forward, honest and frank books from a country entertainer I have read.
If only more of the 'old country singers' were as straight forward as this.

Waylon Jennings was always honest in his song writing and performing, and this book just follows on.
From his childhood, through his Buddy Holly years (and the torment that followed, Waylon gave up his ticket to fly on the ill fated plane that crashed killing all on board including Buddy) to Nashville, through Nashville and on to his rebel days. Waylon tells it how it was.

His early days as a performer in Nashville is extremely insightfull and he brings to life what it was like to be a contemporary of the aspiring song writers of that time, Roger Miller, Mickey Newbury to Kris Kristofferson. His Association with Johnny Cash and Willie Neson. Also insightful is the way he shows how Nashville was run (maybe still is) by a few people and how they thought, and what happened if you didn't 'see' things their way'.
All told in a mild, honest tone of a man who became a forerunner of the 'rebel songwriters and performers' who left Nashville to 'Do It Their Way' and in so doing turned country...

United Kingdom on Oct 15, 2010