Merle Haggard was instrumental in utilizing the outlaw theme in his music during the late 1960s.
Although he adopted the outlaw theme, Haggard had moved past his own outlaw days.
The Outlaws Band
A significant group in the 1960s referred to themselves as "The Outlaws."
Notable members included:
Waylon Jennings
Tompel Glazer
Waylon Jennings: Background
Waylon Jennings was born and raised in West Texas.
Early influences included Country music legends Ernest Tubb and Buddy Holly.
In the early 1960s, Jennings was not only a musician but also worked as a disc jockey at various clubs throughout the Western United States.
Performance and Development of Style
Jennings performed six nights a week at a Phoenix club called JD’s.
The club attracted a diverse audience comprising:
Cowboys
Business people
College students
This experience helped Jennings to develop the skill of performing for a heterogeneous crowd.
Recording Career
1965 marked the year Jennings signed with RCA Victor.
He continued to record with RCA until his death in 2002.
His albums during the late 1960s and early 1970s achieved modest success.
The major breakthrough for Jennings occurred with the release of "Ladies Love Outlaws" in 1972:
This album represented his first significant foray into the outlaw country style.
Struggles for Creative Control
Jennings experienced ongoing struggles for creative control over his recordings.
He perceived the Nashville establishment as overly restrictive.
In 1973, he renegotiated his contract with RCA, gaining a generous financial advance and greater artistic control.
Key albums produced under his control include:
"Lonesome, Own Rey" (1973)
"Neen" (1973)
"The Ramblin' Man" (1974)
Outlaw Image and Media Perception
Although Jennings’ lifestyle was comparable to other country artists, he was often branded as an outlaw by the media and critics.
RCA actively promoted Jennings as fitting the outlaw persona, aided by his distinctive visual image characterized by:
A beard
Black clothing
A black hat
Album Success and Cultural Impact
In 1976, Jennings collaborated with:
Willie Nelson
Tompel Glazer
Jesse Coulter
They recorded "Wanted: The Outlaws", which became the first country music album to be certified platinum, selling over 1,000,000 copies.
The term "outlaw" began to symbolize country musicians who were at odds with the Nashville establishment and advocated for their own artistic expressions in contrast to those dictated by record labels.