New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Five former members of
Waylon Jennings' recording and touring bands are reuniting and hitting the road to present "Runnin' with Ol' Waylon" -
Music and Memories of
Waylon this summer. The tour kicks off at Nashville's City Winery June 16, 2018.
The new tour will present a concert experience that chronicles one of the most powerful movements in Country
Music history. The multimedia show will give the audience a unique opportunity to experience the fascinating personal stories, never before seen video and images as well as great performances of Waylon's music, all from the band who lived it.
The band will hit the road as The Waylors and feature Waylon's original drummer Richie Albright,
Alabama Music Hall of Fame Award winning bassman Jerry "Jigger" Bridges, the only female member of Waylon's band during the Outlaw era, artist and vocalist Carter Robertson, GRAMMY Award-winning producer Barny Robertson on keyboards and ACM Award-winning steel and lead guitar veteran Fred Newell. Covering vocals and guitar is Tommy Townsend who, early in his career, was mentored by Waylon.
Waylon's wife, Jessi Colter, has committed to join the band for select dates.
"Why are we doing this tour? Because it's a timely opportunity to play the music we love that has been such a deep part of our stories, and to do that with the people we love," said Carter Robertson. "Besides, to quote
Waylon in Tony Joe White's song, 'If I can't go do down rockin' I ain't gonna go down at all!'"
Collectively, the band performed on the recordings of Waylon's mega hits such as "I Ain't Living Long Like This," the
Dukes of Hazzard"Good Ol' Boys" theme song, "Luckenbach Texas" and "Rainy Day Woman" as well as countless other gold and platinum hits.
"His very tight back-up band, The Waylors, would open Waylon's performance with a few tunes that usually featured female vocalist, Carter Robertson. When the band began to play, the crowd's energy always became electric. They knew
Waylon was not far behind. Richie Albright would kick a steady heart beat on his bass drum. Jerry Bridges on electric bass would then double that rhythm. Thousands of fans would clap hands, cheer, and generally go nuts. It was a musical drug dispensed to ten thousand eager addicts. It was a universal beat called "four on the floor," and was common throughout country and rock music."- Sex, Drugs & Rockabilly: A Moment In Time With
Waylon Jennings by Bill Conrad.
