3/25/1994 Waylon Jennings, Sundome Center, Sun City West, AZ

27 years ago today...

March 25, 1994 - Sun City West, AZ

Waylon Jennings, one of country music's original outlaws, performed a concert in his adopted home state at the Sundome.

Waylon's hit-making days had passed, but he was still a top concert draw and was in the midst of his days with The Highwaymen, a supergroup that also included Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash.

Waylon was originally one of Buddy Holly's band, the Crickets.  While on a package tour, he gave up his plane ticket to a ailing Big Bopper and agreed to take the bus to the next gig.  The plane crashed, killing Holly, the Bopper and Richie Valens.

Waylon's solo career took flight in Arizona when he was tabbed the house act at J.D.'s, a Scottsdale nightclub.  He often played Mr. Lucky's, the west Valley honkytonk reviewed in the March 16 entry of TSTT.  

This concert was a home game for Waylon who was joined on stage by his wife Jessi Colter.  She sang a few solo songs and joined her husband in duets.

The Ramblin' Man died his residence in Chandler in 2002 at age 64.  His body is buried in the City of Mesa Cemetery near HoHoKam Park, his grave marker a macabre tourist attraction to country music fans.


 

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