In 2002, the country music world mourned the loss of one of its legends, Waylon Jennings, the epitome of cowboy country. Known for his rebellious spirit, distinctive baritone voice, and influential contributions to the genre, Jennings’ music continues to resonate with fans. Throughout his five-decade-long career, he recorded 60 albums and achieved 16 No. 1 country singles, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry. Now, his son, Shooter Jennings, has announced that he will be releasing some of his father’s unreleased work next year.
Jennings began his career with A&M Records in the early 1960s, but it wasn’t until the late 1960s and 70s that he found significant success. Hit singles like “Walk Out of My Mind” and “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line” solidified his status in the Outlaw Country Movement, which celebrated raw authenticity in music.
One of his most iconic collaborations was with Willie Nelson on the timeless classic “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” a song that remains one of the most memorable in country music history. Jennings’ contributions earned him numerous Grammy Awards and an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
Waylon Jennings’ legacy endures through his timeless recordings and profound influence on the evolution of country music. Recently, fans were thrilled to learn of the impending release of new Jennings music. Shooter Jennings, who has followed in his father’s musical footsteps, shared this exciting news on Father’s Day through social media.
In his post, Shooter recounted a childhood memory of a perpetually locked room in their house, referred to as the “storage room” by his parents. “I have vivid memories of dozens of grey boxes in cubby holes with notes written in marker on the outside. I knew what was in those boxes was my dad’s work,” he shared.
After Waylon Jennings’ passing in 2002, these boxes remained in storage. In 2008 and 2014, the contents were transferred to digital drives for safekeeping. What Shooter discovered was not merely a few unreleased songs but a treasure trove of his father’s legacy. “What I found was a massive historical documentation of a man, and a band, with an incredible friendship, work ethic, and deep passion for playing and recording music. What I found was way beyond my wildest fantasies,” he revealed.
Shooter continued, announcing, “I’m in possession of a treasure trove of previously unheard full band, Waylon Jennings multi-tracked recordings from the 70s and early 80s, and I have begun preparing the material to be mixed right here in Snake Mountain on this beautiful 1976 Demedio Custom API console. These are not demos, these are not unfinished, but they will take some time to explore, prepare, and mix. You have something to look forward to.”
He concluded his post with a promise: “There will be new, classic Waylon Jennings music in 2025… stay tuned…”
Fans of Waylon Jennings can look forward to revisiting the magic of his music, as Shooter Jennings prepares to share these long-hidden treasures with the world.
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