The Waylors
| The Waylors | |
|---|---|
 Dream Baby , released on BAT Records (1962) |
|
| General information | |
| Genre (s) | Country music , rock 'n' roll , folk |
| founding | 1961 |
| resolution | 2002 |
| Founding members | |
| Waylon Jennings | |
| Gerald "Jerry" Gropp | |
| Paul Foster | |
| Richard "Richie" Albright | |
The Waylors were an American country , folk and rock 'n' roll band and also the backing band of Waylon Jennings .
history
The Waylors were founded in late 1960 by Waylon Jennings in Phoenix , Arizona , who had previously played with Buddy Holly and was still heavily influenced by rock'n'roll at the time. They quickly got a permanent place in Jim Musil's Bar At JD's , at that time the largest club in Arizona. Two singles were produced on Musil's label BAT Records in 1963, but only Jennings was mentioned. They recorded their first album Waylon Jennings at JD’s in 1964 and sold well regionally. During this time a typical sound of the band developed. The electronically amplified instruments were characteristic. The drums could often only be heard as a side stick (stop of the snare hoop when the stick is on). Rock'n'Roll was mixed with country and folk - a mixture that was well received by the audience. The success of the Waylors was no longer limited to the well-attended appearances at JD's, but other engagements followed, such as in the Cowtown Jamboree in Fort Worth , Texas . Jennings began to record other singles in 1964.
In 1965 Jennings got a record deal with RCA Records due to its increasing popularity . The Waylors were only partially taken over as backing band, because RCA and the other major labels of the time relied on studio musicians from Nashville who played the so-called "Nashville Sound". Jennings then hit the charts for the first time. The first RCA album Folk Country from the summer of 1965 was recorded with Gropp and Albright, among others. Both musicians were present at the sessions until 1968; Gropp left the band in 1968.
In the 1970s, when Jennings got more freedom in terms of repertoire and production, the Waylors came back to the studio with him. For the soundtrack album Mackintosh & TJ for the film of the same name (with Roy Rogers in the leading role) from 1976, the Waylors recorded some instrumental pieces. They were supported by musicians such as Johnny Gimble ( fiddle ) or Ralph Mooney ( steel guitar ). Of the old members who had founded the band in the early 1960s, only drummer Richard Albright was there.
The Waylors Jennings' tour group stayed until the 1980s. In 1980 the line-up consisted of Richard Albright, Rance Wasson (guitar), Gordon Payne (guitar), Jerry Bridges (bass), Ralph Mooney (steel guitar), Cliff Robertson ( piano ) and Carter Robertson (vocals).
In 1998 the Waylors reappeared with a new line-up in honor of Waylon Jennings at Chet Atkins ' Chettie Award music festival at the Ryman Auditorium . In 2002 they went on tour through the USA again. Today the Waylors don't play anymore because the former band members have devoted themselves to other areas of interest or have already passed away.
Discography
Singles
- 1976: Crazy Arms / Shopping (RCA)
Albums
- 1964: Waylon Jennings at JD's
- 1976: Mackintosh & TJ (soundtrack)