For my generation, he will always be the "Balladeer" and singer of the theme song to Dukes of Hazzard. 

For our parent's generation, he was the original "outlaw," a leader of country music's version of a punk movement.  He's a proven survivor--the dude just missed taking a seat on the plane crash that killed the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valenz, and Buddy Holly; the "day the music died"--who, along with Willie Nelson, was the first of Nashville's artists to dictate the terms of his own contract and in turn actually profit from live touring. 

Yet for the youngest generation of Americans, Waylon Jennings is an afterthought, a cameo in the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk The Line." 

That is about to change. 

Vagrant Records, a punk haven to The Hold Steady, Alkaline Trio, Saves The Day, and The Futureheads, is releasing a posthumous album Waylon recorded with his son, Shooter Jennings, and his band, the .357's.   The new single, "Outlaw Shit"  will introduce alot of people to the smoothness, the operatic, and the take-no-shit attitude that opened up country music beyond the Grand Ol Opry and into mainstream pop/rock.  

No Waylon, no CCR.  No Waylon, no Skynyrd.  Shit, no Waylon, no Metallica.  (Jennings was a mentor and influence to James Hetfield.)

Vagrant is kind enough to offer "Outlaw Shit" free to REAX readers.  You can download it here.  It, along with seven original tracks will be released under the LP Waylon Forever on October 21.  Check us out for a review in the coming weeks.

Waylon Jennings at Austin City Limits: