Music Loses Another Great Star...

[longston]

Born on June 15, 1937, in Littlefield, Texas, Waylon Jennings died today at his home in Arizona from a long bout with diabetes. He was 64 years old.



Many will remember him for his contribution of "outlaw" stylings to country music that changed the genre forever, and many say, gave birth to the "new country" and "young country" movements of today. Some of you may even remember that he was Buddy Holly's bass player, and narrowly avoided death in 1959 when he gave up his seat on that ill-fated private airplane flight to the Big Bopper. I only hope the Governor of Texas has the state flags lowered to half-staff in his honor.

All I know is I always enjoyed what he did, and respected him as an artist and showman. I'm just sorry I won't be able to attend the wake. It should be a great party...

This cold Lone Star and shot of Wild Turkey are for you Waylon. Thanks for the music...

[MikeTangas]

I hadn't heard the news till now.

I'm sure Jesse's mourning even though they were no longer married. I think it's time to fire up the turntable and slap on an "Outlaws" platter.

[Frank X. Morris]

Howdy All
If you want something a little different you should listen to him cover some of Roy Orbison's songs. At this moment it could leave you "Crying"

I keep hearing this tale about Ol' Waylon giving up his seat on the airplane. I saw him interviewed a few years ago and if I remember correctly, he lost a coin toss. He said that Buddy Holly kiddingly told him "I hope you freeze to death on that bus." Waylon said he told Buddy "Well I hope your airplane crashes." He said that it took years for him to come to grips with himself for making such a comment, even jokingly.

Have a great day,

[ymsin]

Originally posted by LarryBible
I keep hearing this tale about Ol' Waylon giving up his seat on the airplane. I saw him interviewed a few years ago and if I remember correctly, he lost a coin toss. He said that Buddy Holly kiddingly told him "I hope you freeze to death on that bus." Waylon said he told Buddy "Well I hope your airplane crashes." He said that it took years for him to come to grips with himself for making such a comment, even jokingly.

I would have stopped living had I said that to someone who crashed. But it was a sad day for all when the plane crashed. It was "the day the music died".

[Frank X. Morris]

Howdy Larry,
I think that was the first time he ever mentioned that quote in public. There was a tribute to him on the Grand Ol'Oprey Saturday night. Porter Wagner(host) said it was the greatest Oprey he has ever seen.

[Snibble]

Hey Frank X. Morris.. you are not by any chance the same Frank Morris who escaped from Alcatraz? are you?

[Frank X. Morris]

Howdy Snibble,
You are the second person to ask and this was my reply to the first. I'm a little young for that but my uncle who has the same name has a blank spot in his life he doesn't talk about

[Gilly]

(That, of course, a quote from one of my favorite Waylon Jennings songs, "Bob Wills is Still the King".)
As long as we're sort of on the subject, a reference was made about "The Day the Music Died" by Don McLean. Can anyone substantiate this rumor? There are of course a few hidden and not-so-hidden references the "the day the music died" (Feb 3 1959) in that song. One I've heard only occasionally, is the the Beechcraft Bonanza that crashed actually was "named" Miss American Pie. Anyone else ever hear this? My web browser doesn't seem to support the theory, if that means much. Something like this wouldn't have been on any accident report by the FAA, you'd really almost have to been close to the pilot (if it was just a personal thing) or the charter outfit if it were actually painted on the plane somewhere.
Great, great loss. If anyone is ever down around the Texas Hill Country, be sure to stop by Luckenbach and have a beer, think of our ol pal Waylon. Really quaint little area.
Gilly

[longston]

"Performing in concert was very profitable, and Buddy Holly needed the money it provided. "The Winter Dance Party Tour" was planned to cover 24 cities in a short 3 week time frame (January 23 - February 15) and Holly would be the biggest headliner. Waylon Jennings, a friend from Lubbock, Texas and Tommy Allsup would go along as backup musicians.

Ritchie Valens, probably the hottest of the artists at the time, The Big Bopper, and Dion and the Belmonts would round out the list of performers.

The tour bus developed heating problems. It was so cold onboard that reportedly one of the drummers developed frostbite riding in it. When they arrived at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, they were cold, tired and disgusted.

Buddy Holly had had enough of the unheated bus and decided to charter a plane for himself and his guys. At least he could get some laundry done before the next performance!

That night at the Surf Ballroom was magical as the fans went wild over the performers.

Dwyer Flying Service got the charter. $36 per person for a single engine Beechcraft Bonanza.

No, the plane wasn't named American Pie. It only had serial numbers, N3794N.

Waylon Jennings gave his seat up to Richardson (The Big Bopper), who was running a fever and had trouble fitting his stocky frame comfortably into the bus seats.

When Holly learned that Jennings wasn't going to fly, he said, "Well, I hope your old bus freezes up." Jennings responded, "Well, I hope your plane crashes." This friendly banter of friends would haunt Jennings for years.

Allsup told Valens, I'll flip you for the remaining seat. On the toss of a coin, Valens won the seat and Allsup the rest of his life.

The plane took off a little after 1 AM from Clear Lake and never got far from the airport before it crashed, killing all onboard.

A cold N.E wind immediately gave way to a snow which drastically reduced visibility. The ground was already blanketed in white. The pilot may have been inexperienced with the instrumentation.

One wing hit the ground and the small plane corkscrewed over and over. The three young stars were thrown clear of the plane, leaving only pilot Roger Peterson inside.

Over the years there has been much speculation as to whether a shot was fired inside the plane which disabled or killed the pilot. Logic suggests that encased in a sea of white snow, with only white below, Peterson just flew the plane into the ground."

For more detail than any sane person wants to know, go to:

http://www.fiftiesweb.com/crash.htm

[Gilly]

Mmmm, still no proof one way or another of the aircraft having been given the name "Miss American Pie". As I mentioned, this wouldn't show up on an accident report. It's the same with a car. Many of our members list their car's "name" behinds it's year and model, but if you have an accident, the license plate number is on the report, no one cares if you named your car "Gertrude".
With aircraft, as with boats, it's rather common to see the name actually written on the outside. I think this was probably even more common in the years following WWII, when many pilots named their combat aircraft.
Come to think of it, I wonder why boats (ships anyways) are only referred to by name, "Edmund Fitzgerald" or "Exxon Valdez" or "Titanic" come to mind. Wonder if those things have an official number that shows up in an accident report, or if the name is enough?
Gilly

ps Scott: Or does your reference specifically state that the Beechcraft was "nameless"?

[MikeTangas]

Yes Gilley,

Ships do have an official number. The hull number is generally stamped into a bulkhead in the engine room, usually the bulkhead to the rudder room as I recall. This number is also on the registration documents along with the name. Over time, the vessels may change hands and names but the hull number will always be the same.

All of the boats I have piloted had these numbers stamped into the bulkhead and were only refered to by their registered name.

[BENZ-LGB]

Will miss Waylon's music. His death is a reminder, however, that although AIDS and other diseases receive a great deal of attention, diabetes is a silent killer that slowly kills its victims, much of the time without warning (till it is too late).

[longston]

Gilly,

The research I did SPECIFICALLY states (read my posting and go to the source I posted again) that the plane was NOT named anything. The plane was simply used as part of their fleet by a flight service, and not personalized in any way at all.

Don McLean (may he die is an equally stupid air crash) as a songwriter has the right of artistic license to embellish the lyrics to mean what he intends. Go back to the link I posted. If you look, you'll find a actual link to the complete lyrics of "American Pie", and also see an explanation of the lyrics broken down verse by freakin' verse...

I would personally assume that the reference to "Miss American Pie" in the lyrics and title of the song, specifically in terms of "Bye, bye, Miss American pie..." is simply a songwriter's elusion to an overall sense of loss of innocence that was manifest after the plane crash (remember that this was the first, and arguably, the most famous of the series of plane crashes that have claimed the lives of so many of our pop idols over the years). Clearly, the mental images of Miss America and Mom's Apple Pie are being combined here by the songwriter to amplify that sense of loss as they are the two most pure representations of American beauty, purity and innocence as well as representing the very best of the holy trinity of Virginity, Motherhood and fresh baked goods that is so revered in the hearts of most right-thinking Americans.

As for diabetes, it's quite treatable and even reversible if someone changes their lifestyle and diet when they realize they have it. Waylon had just had his left foot amputated in January. If he only had started on a diet and exercise regimen earlier, he'd likely still be alive today if he didn't eat so much apple pie.:p