Waylon Jennings

The collaborator on the 1986 album Heroes.

RCA Records · via Wikipedia: Waylon Jennings · Public domain

Waylon Jennings is an American country music singer who released one collaborative studio album with Johnny Cash titled Heroes. Released on Columbia Records in 1986, this marked Johnny Cash's 72nd overall album release. On the album, Waylon Jennings performed vocals and guitar alongside his longtime collaborator.

Quick Facts

Birth name

Wayland Arnold Jennings

Alias

Hoss
Chief
Watasha
Waymore

Born

15 June 1937

Birthplace

Littlefield, Texas, U.S.

Died

13 February 2002

Place of death

Chandler, Arizona, U.S.

Instrument

Vocals
guitar
bass

Genre

Country; outlaw country

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

In 1986, the partnership between Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash resulted in their only collaborative studio album, Heroes. The recording featured a specific lineup of musicians that defined its sound. Wayne Jackson, Ace Cannon, and Dennis Good contributed horns, while Ralph Mooney played steel guitar. Guitar duties were shared among Al Casey, James B. Cobb Jr., Jerry Shook, Reggie Young, and Marty Stuart, who also added mandolin. The rhythm section included Gene Chrisman on drums, Jimmy Tittle and Mike Leech on bass, with Leech also serving as an arranger. Keyboards were handled by Larry Butler, Bobby Emmons, and Bobby Wood. Backing vocals were provided by Rick Yancey and Danny Hogan. This collective effort produced a singular document of their collaboration under the Columbia Records label.

Reader's Guide

The album features backing vocals by Rick Yancey and Danny Hogan, distinct from the lead performances by Cash and Jennings. Instrumental highlights include Marty Stuart's work on guitar and mandolin, Ralph Mooney's steel guitar, and horn arrangements by Ace Cannon, Dennis Good, and Wayne Jackson. Mike Leech contributed significantly as both a bassist and an arranger. The project was released in 1986 on Columbia Records. For those seeking further information, Luma Electronic maintains a Johnny Cash discography listing that includes this release. The credits also list Chips Moman and David Cherry for their engineering roles, ensuring the sound captured the collaboration accurately.