Waylon started in music teaching himself guitar, then forming his own band. He worked as a DJ until joining Buddy Holly's band. When Holly's died in 1959 in a plane crash, Waylon suffered with guilt for years as he struggled to come to grips with his last exchange with Holly, which came down to Buddy saying, "I hope your bus stalls," to which Waylon responded, "Yeah? I hope your plane crashes." It took him years to get back into performing. He finally settled in Phoenix , where he did as many as three shows a night for six days a week, developing his own unique sound and a devoted following amidst the locals (Phoenix had a grand tradition of local country performers in those days, and some of the best honky-tonks in the country). After Bobby Bare heard Waylon's version of "Four Strong Winds," he recommended him to Chet Atkins. Waylon moved to Nashville in 1965. There the suits tried to make him over, something Waylon fought hard against, wanting to retain the independent artistic freedom he'd had in the Phoenix music scene. This he finally won in 1973, earning enormous critical success with the release of Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean and Honky-Tonk Heroes. He married his fourth wife, Jessi Colter, in 1969. With her, pal Willie Nelson, and Tompall Glaser, he released Wanted! The Outlaws in 1976, which became the first country album to go platinum. Waylon continued recording his way for nearly 30 years, until his death in 2002 from diabetes.