In recent years, the country music industry has lost some of its original outlaws, like Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.
After the success of the film "Walk the Line," Cash will continue to live on and a modern-day country troubadour named Shooter Jennings carries the torch for his late father, Waylon.
Waylon "Shooter" Jennings has more in common with his father than just an iconic name. Critics have called Shooter a breath of fresh air in the country music genre, and his style, "Harkens back to the outlaw movement of the 1970s," according to Rolling Stone magazine. (A decade in which his father's legend was solidified.)
Shooter learned to play the drums at age five, guitar at 14, and soon had his own band named Stargunn. Although his original musical inclinations leaned toward Southern rock like Lynyrd Skynyrd, he soon realized country was truly an inescapable career path.
"Country music is the background of American music," Shooter said in a recent phone interview.
This background is not limited to his famous outlaw father. Shooter's mother is fellow country singer Jessi Colter whose most recent album was released last year. The singing couple was married for 31 years and Shooter was practically raised on their tour bus.
These unconventional family road trips allowed Shooter to see the country. Some of his fondest memories with his father occurred right here in the birthplace of rock 'n' roll.
"We used to stay at The Peabody and go see the ducks," Shooter said.
Graceland and Sun Studios were also on the tourist agenda when the Jennings family was in Memphis. While filming "Walk the Line" Shooter revisited some of these spots, and said Memphis is still one of his favorite cities to play.
"One of my best friends lives in Memphis, so I always love coming down," he said.
Shooter's live performance at the Young Avenue Deli Thursday April 13, is guaranteed to include favorites from his highly successful debut album Put the O Back in Country along with tracks from Electric Rodeo. Considering the plethora of original songs under Shooter's belt, audiences may also hear some new tunes during his live gig at the Deli.
"I wrote most of the second album while I was still out touring the first one," Shooter said.
Shooter said although he never sits down with the intention of writing a song, finishing one is the greatest reward. The rewards and audience support show little signs of stopping, and Shooter hopes he will eventually get to collaborate with modern day rockers like Jack White of The White Stripes.
His father, Waylon, was a member of The Highwayman alongside Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. When asked who would be included in his ideal country super-group, Shooter responded in true Jennings style, "There's no one out there now really. I know for a fact I'm not going to work with no Kenny Chesney."
This fearless attitude toward music and contemporary musicians may be off-putting to some, but for Shooter, his father wouldn't have had it either way. Waylon offered up countless advice to his only child over the years, and one of these sayings is posted on Waylon's official Web site.
"Don't try to be somebody else, cause you ain't never gonna be anybody but yourself."
This advice has stuck with Shooter over the years while he continues to be inspired by the legacy his father left behind. While his father was still here, however, he and Shooter began experimenting in the studio. These tracks have recently been polished and a complete album entitled, Waylon Jennings and the 357's are slated for a fall release.
"It sounds like Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon mixed with Waylon," Shooter said in an interview with Rolling Stone.
Some artists may want to shy away from their famous family members, but Shooter wears the Jennings name like a badge of honor.
Check out Shooter Jennings and the 357's on Thursday April 13 at The Young Avenue Deli. Call 901-278-0034 for more information.
