‘Good Ol’ Boys’: Theme Song Written, Recorded, & Performed by a True Texan

Each evening that it aired, family members would sit down together waiting to see what kind of hiccup those crazy Duke boys would get into when “The Dukes of Hazzard” was on. Airing on CBS from 1979 to 1985, it was inspired by the 1975 movie called “Moonrunners” which Gy Waldron (creator of the Dukes episodes,) also developed. It created a number of pop culture icons, not the least of which was the General Lee car (which drew the series into social and political debate in 2015 regarding symbolism,) but what many of us will never forget, and often still listen to now and then, is the show’s theme song, performed by Waylon Jennings.

Jennings began the intro song and narration of the show in the very first season, but the imagery many recall of him playing his ’68 Telecaster with the leather body case and white inlay design didn’t start until the intro to the second season. For the rest of the series, many tuned in to hear that voice and song, together with the crazy storylines that would develop from Bo and Luke Duke, living in the fictional county of Hazzard, Georgia. The song itself is still treasured by fans of the show, and even pure Jennings fans.

Shared by M-Power Addict on their YouTube Channel, the opening song and credits to “The Dukes of Hazzard” show are burned into the memories of many an ‘80s child and their parents. Jennings himself was born near Littlefield, Texas, and began playing guitar at the age of eight, performing on a local radio show. His first band was actually called The Texas Longhorns, and in the late ‘50s, as a radio D.J., he got his first recording deal through Buddy Holly. Holly went on to hire Jennings to play bass in his band and concert shows, from which Jennings infamously avoided certain death by opting to ride the tour bus as opposed to taking a plane from Clear Lake, Iowa, which crashed on February 3, 1959. Composing and singing the theme song for “The Dukes of Hazzard,” Jennings was well into his career in country music, and had a number of fans that were known to tune into the show simply because he was the balladeer and narrator!

References:

TDPRI

Wikipedia

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