Waylon Jennings was born on June 15, 1937, making him a Gemini. For Jennings, he had a bit of a love hate relationship with astrology, and the belief people put in looking to the stars for guidance.
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"I believe in astrology to a certain point," Jennings tells Gene Guerrero in an interview from more than 50 years ago. "I believe the general tendencies are about half right. But the day to day Mickey Mouse — that's a bunch of bull. I believe the moon, stars, planets, what-have-you, can have an influence on a person. Because after all, a human body is a certain percentage salt water. and the moon and stars and everything control the oceans. So why not?
"All right, I'm Gemini now, and that makes me crazy 'cause there's two of me. You never know which one you're talking to — me neither," he jokes.
One of the so-called attributes of being a Gemini is curiousity. It's a trait that Jennings shows in his music, by blending lots of different styles into his own style of music.
"I am country," Jennings maintains. "I am a country boy. Here's the thing: I don't try to aim at a pop field. When you start aiming at the pop field, then you get in trouble. Because that pop field is a funny field. 'Cause they'll love you today, and tomorrow you can be a cotton picker. And hey'll say, 'Waylon who?' When a country record does as much as it's going to in the country field, I don't worry about it after that. Anything after that is fine."
Waylon Jennings Refused To Play By The Rules
Jennings was part of the notorious outlaw movement, a style that was once loathed by country music purists, but is now revered. Throughout Jennings' entire career, he refused to play by the rules, almost quitting at one point.
Fortunately, he stayed because of his love of songwriting, a decision that makes him a country msuic legend.
"All of a sudden, I started writing again," Jennings recalls. "And I picked up the guitar and started trying to play again. So as long as I feel like playing, as long as I like it, as long as I'm having a good time with it, then I'll do it. But they're not going to dictate to me when I quit. Or how long I can stay in this business. The business is not going to dictate that to me."
