The “THE ULTIMATE WAYLON TRIBUTE” featuring original members of Waylon Jennings band take audiences back covering the songs that created the Outlaw movement. Waylon Jennings’ songs are considered timeless, defined by his signature gravel-rough voice, rebellious “outlaw” attitude, and raw, authentic storytelling that broke Nashville conventions. Hits like “Luckenbach, Texas” and “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” remain staples, showcasing a simple, honest sound that appeals audiences across generations.
The outlaw movement was a 1970s country music revolution spearheaded by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson that rejected Nashville’s polished, producer-driven formula for creative freedom, raw sound, and authentic storytelling. It combined honky-tonk, folk, and rock elements, establishing a new, gritty standard for artistic independence.
Before Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson started the outlaw country movement, much of the Nashville music scene was controlled by record labels, producers and publishers. Frustrated by the lack of creative control, Willie Nelson moved to Austin, where he encountered a new, youth rock-based audience mixed with a traditional country audience.
In this excerpt clip from The Highwaymen: Friends Til The End, Waylon Jennings talks about how he started the outlaw movement, which was epitomized by his 1974 album, “This Time” — produced by Waylon and Nelson.
Jennings said in his autobiography: “For us, ‘outlaw’ meant standing up for your rights, your own way of doing things. It felt like different music, and outlaw was as good a description as any.”