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For other persons named Hank Williams, see Hank Williams (disambiguation). Hank Williams is the shared name of three generations of American country musicians Hank Williams ( September 17 1923 – January 1 1953
This article is about Hank Williams, Sr. For his son, see Hank Williams, Jr.. Hank Williams Jr, (born Randall Hank Williams, May 26, 1949) is an American country Singer-songwriter and Musician For his grandson, see Hank Williams III. Shelton Hank Williams III ( December 12, 1972) is an American musician
Hank Williams
Hank Williams at the Grand Ole Opry
Hank Williams at the Grand Ole Opry
Background information
Birth name Hiram Williams
Also known as Luke the Drifter
Born September 17, 1923(1923-09-17)
Georgiana, Alabama
Origin Montgomery, Alabama, USA
Died January 1, 1953 (aged 29)
Oak Hill, West Virginia
Genre(s) Country, blues, honky tonk
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s) Vocals, guitar, harmonica
Years active 1937–1952
Label(s) Sterling, MGM
Associated acts Drifting Cowboys
Website www.hankwilliams.com

Hank Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer-songwriter and musician who has become an icon of country music and one of the most influential musicians and songwriters of the 20th century. The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Country music radio program and concert broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Georgiana is a town in Butler County, Alabama, United States. Montgomery (məntˈgəmɜriː is the Capital, second most populous city and the 4th most populous metropolitan area in the Southern U The United States of America —commonly referred to as the New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Oak Hill is a city in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States and is the primary city within the Oak Hill WV Micropolitan Statistical Area A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Honky-tonk is a term has also been attached to various styles of 20th-century American Music. Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles A harmonica is a free reed Wind instrument which is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes (reed chambers or In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Sterling Records Inc was the Record label that issued records by Hank Williams before MGM Records. MGM Records was a Record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film studio in 1946 The Drifting Cowboys were the backing group for American music legend Hank Williams. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. A leading pioneer of the honky tonk style, he had numerous hit records, and his charismatic performances and succinct compositions increased his fame. Honky-tonk is a term has also been attached to various styles of 20th-century American Music. His songbook is one of the backbones of country music, and several of his songs are pop standards as well. Traditional pop or Classic pop or Standards music denotes in general Western (and particularly American popular music that either wholly predates the advent of He has been covered in a range of pop, gospel, blues and rock styles. Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Gospel music is Music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life as well as (in terms of the varying music styles to The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. His death at the age of twenty-nine helped fuel his legend. His son (Randall) Hank Williams, Jr., nicknamed 'Bocephus', his daughter Jett Williams, and his grandchildren Hank Williams III, Holly Williams, and Hilary Williams are also professional singers. Hank Williams Jr, (born Randall Hank Williams, May 26, 1949) is an American country Singer-songwriter and Musician Jett Williams (born January 6, 1953) is an American Country music performer Shelton Hank Williams III ( December 12, 1972) is an American musician Holly Williams (born March 12, 1981) is an American Singer/songwriter.

Contents

Childhood

Birth

Hiram Williams was born in 1923, in the small unincorporated town of Mount Olive, about eight miles southwest of Georgiana, Alabama. Mount Olive, also spelled Mt Olive is an Unincorporated community and a Census-designated place in Jefferson County, Alabama in the Georgiana is a town in Butler County, Alabama, United States. He was named after Hiram I of Tyre, but his name was misspelled as "Hiriam" on his birth certificate. Hiram I ( Hebrew: חִירָם "high-born" Standard Hebrew Ḥiram, Tiberian vocalization Ḥîrām) according to [1] He was born with a mild undiagnosed case of spina bifida occulta, a disorder of the spinal column, which gave him life-long pain—a factor in his later abuse of alcohol and drugs. Spina bifida ( Latin: "split spine" is a developmental Birth defect involving the Neural tube: incomplete closure of the Embryonic neural His parents were Elonzo Huble Williams, known as "Lon," or "Lonnie", a train conductor for a regional lumber company and World War I veteran, and Jessie Lillybelle Williams, known as "Lillie. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All " He had an older half sister (from his father's first marriage) named Irene. He also had a still-born brother, named Robin. A stillbirth occurs when a Fetus which has died in the Uterus or during labor or delivery exits a Woman 's body

Early childhood

During his early childhood, the Williams family moved frequently throughout southern Alabama as his father's job required. In 1930, when Williams was seven years old, his father began suffering from face paralysis. At a Veterans Affairs clinic in Pensacola, Florida, doctors determined that the cause was a brain aneurysm, so they sent Elonzo Williams to the VA Medical Center in Alexandria, Louisiana. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs ( VA) is a government-run military Veteran benefit system with Cabinet -level status Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the County seat of Escambia County. A cerebral aneurysm or brain aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral Artery or Vein Alexandria is a City in and the Parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. Lonnie remained hospitalized for eight years and was therefore mostly absent throughout Hank's childhood.

In 1931, Lillie Williams settled her family in Georgiana, Alabama, where she worked as the manager of a boarding house. She managed to find several side jobs to support her children, despite the bleak economic climate of the Great Depression. She worked in a cannery and served as a night-shift nurse in the local hospital. Hiram and Irene also helped out by selling peanuts, shining shoes, delivering newspapers, and doing other simple jobs. With the help of U. S. Representative J. Lister Hill, the family began collecting Lon's military disability pension. Joseph Lister Hill ( December 29 1894 &ndash December 21 1984) was a Democratic U Despite Lon's medical condition, the Williams family managed fairly well financially throughout the Depression.

Preteen years

In 1933, Hank Williams moved to Fountain, Alabama, to live with his uncle and aunt, Walter and Alice McNell. Meanwhile, his cousin Opal McNell moved in with the Williams family in Georgiana to attend the high school there. In Fountain, ten-year-old Williams became close friends with his cousin J. C. McNell, who was six years older. There he learned some of the trades and habits that would dominate the rest of his life. His Aunt Alice taught him to play the guitar, and his cousin J. C. taught him to drink whiskey.

After a year of living with his relatives in Fountain, Williams moved back to Georgiana, where he met Rufus Payne, a black blues musician living in the nearby town of Greenville. Rufus Payne was an early 20th century American Blues Musician from Greenville, Alabama who was more widely known by his Nickname Greenville is a city in Butler County, Alabama, United States. Payne often traveled through Georgiana and other towns in the area to perform in the streets and other public places. Payne, who was known more commonly as "Tee-Tot," became Williams' mentor and greatly influenced his musical style.

In the fall of 1934, the Williams family moved to Greenville, Alabama, a larger town about fifteen miles to the north of Georgiana. Lillie opened a boarding house next to the Butler County courthouse, and Williams was able to spend more time with Payne. Butler County is a County of the US state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Captain William Butler, who was born in Virginia and Sometimes Williams would stay at Payne's house overnight. In 1937, Williams got into a rough fight with his physical-education coach. Furious with the coach, his mother demanded that the school board fire him. When the school board refused to take action, she decided to move the family to Montgomery. Montgomery (məntˈgəmɜriː is the Capital, second most populous city and the 4th most populous metropolitan area in the Southern U

Career

Early career

In July, 1937, the Williams and McNell families opened a boarding house on South Perry Street in downtown Montgomery, a city much larger than any they had ever lived in. It was at this time that Hiram decided to informally change his name to Hank, a name which he said was better suited to his desired career in country music.

After school and on weekends, Hank sang and played his Silvertone guitar on the sidewalk in front of the WSFA radio studios. Silvertone was the brand name used by Sears for their line of musical instruments and sound equipment from the 1930s to 1972 WSFA is an NBC -affiliated Television station broadcasting on VHF channel 12 in Montgomery Alabama. He quickly caught the attention of WSFA producers, who occasionally invited him to come inside and perform on air. So many listeners contacted the radio station asking for more of the "Singing Kid" that the producers hired him to host his own fifteen-minute show, twice a week for a weekly salary of fifteen dollars.

In August 1938, Lon Williams was temporarily released from the hospital, and he showed up unannounced at the family's home in Montgomery. Lillie was unwilling to let him reclaim his position at the head of the household, so he stayed only long enough to celebrate Hank's birthday in September before he returned to the medical center in Louisiana. It was the first time Hank had seen his father in over eight years, and even after the reunion, he felt as though he had grown up without a father.

Drifting Cowboys

Hank's successful radio show fueled his entrance to a music career. His generous salary was enough for him to start his own band, which he dubbed the Drifting Cowboys. The Drifting Cowboys were the backing group for American music legend Hank Williams. The original members of the band were guitarist Braxton Schuffert, fiddler Freddie Beach, and comic Smith "Hezzy" Adair. Arthor Whiting was also a guitarist for The Drifting Cowboys. The Drifting Cowboys traveled throughout central and southern Alabama, performing in clubs and at private parties. Hank dropped out of school in October, 1939, so that the Drifting Cowboys could work full time.

Lillie Williams stepped up to be the Drifting Cowboys' manager. She began booking show dates, negotiating prices, and driving them to some of their shows. Now free to travel without Hank's school schedule taking precedence, the band was able to tour as far away as western Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule The Florida Panhandle is the region of the state of Florida which includes the westernmost 16 counties Meanwhile, Hank returned to Montgomery every weekday to host his radio show.

The American entrance into World War II in 1941 marked the beginning of hard times for Hank Williams. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including All his band members were drafted to serve in the military, and many of their replacements refused to continue playing in the band because of Hank's worsening alcoholism. The Draft redirects here For other uses see Draft. Conscription in the United States has been employed several times usually during Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions His idol, Grand Ole Opry star Roy Acuff, warned him of the dangers of alcohol, saying "You've got a million-dollar voice, son, but a ten-cent brain. The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Country music radio program and concert broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee Roy Claxton Acuff ( September 15, 1903 &ndash November 23, 1992) was an American country Musician known "[2] Despite Acuff's advice, Williams continued to show up for his radio show intoxicated, so in August, 1942, WSFA fired him due to "habitual drunkenness. "

Later career

Williams had eleven number-one hits in his short career — "Lovesick Blues", "Long Gone Lonesome Blues", "Why Don't You Love Me?", "Moanin' the Blues", "Cold, Cold Heart", "Hey Good Lookin'", "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)", "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive", "Kaw-Liga", "Your Cheatin' Heart", "Take These Chains From My Heart" — as well as many other top 10 hits.

1940s

In 1943, Williams met Audrey Shepard, and the couple was married a year later. Audrey also became his manager as Williams' career was rising and he became a local celebrity. A celebrity is a widely-recognized or famous person who commands a high degree of public and media attention In 1946, Williams recorded two singles for Sterling Records, "Never Again" (1946) and "Honky Tonkin'" (1947), both of which were successful. Sterling Records Inc was the Record label that issued records by Hank Williams before MGM Records. Williams soon signed with MGM Records, and released "Move It On Over", a massive country hit. MGM Records was a Record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film studio in 1946 Move It on Over is the second album by George Thorogood & The Destroyers released by Rounder Records in 1978 In August 1948, Williams joined The Louisiana Hayride, broadcasting from Shreveport, Louisiana, propelling him into living rooms all over the southeast. The Louisiana Hayride was a radio (later television broadcast from the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport Louisiana, that during its heyday from Shreveport is the third-largest city and the principal city of the third largest Metropolitan area in the U After a few more moderate hits, Williams released his version of Rex Griffin's "Lovesick Blues" in 1949, which became a huge country hit and crossed over to mainstream audiences. Alsie "Rex" Griffin (August 12 1912 Gasden Alabama - October 11 1959 New Orleans) was an American Country musician Griffin was the second " Lovesick Blues " is a Show tune written by Cliff Friend and Irving Mills, which has become a popular country song and Pop standard. Mainstream is generally the common current of Thought of the Majority. That year, Williams sang the song at the Grand Ole Opry, where he became the first performer to receive six encores. The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Country music radio program and concert broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee The encore is an additional extra performance of a Musical piece at the end of the regular Concert, which is not listed in the event Setlist, from the In addition, Hank brought together Bob McNett (guitar), Hillous Butrum (bass), Jerry Rivers (fiddle) and Don Helms (steel guitar) to form the most famous version of the Drifting Cowboys; also that year, Audrey Williams gave birth to Randall Hank Williams (Hank Williams, Jr.). The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Hillous Buel Butrum ( April 21, 1928 &ndash April 27, 2002) was an American Country music Guitar player and The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed String instrument used in the modern symphony orchestra. Don Helms ( February 27, 1927 - August 11, 2008) was a Steel guitarist best known as the steel guitar player of Hank Steel guitar is A method of playing Slide guitar using a steel. The Drifting Cowboys were the backing group for American music legend Hank Williams. Hank Williams Jr, (born Randall Hank Williams, May 26, 1949) is an American country Singer-songwriter and Musician 1949 also saw Williams release seven hit songs after "Lovesick Blues", including "Wedding Bells", "Mind Your Own Business", "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)" and "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It".

Luke the Drifter

In 1950, Williams began recording as Luke the Drifter, an appellation given to Williams for use in identifying his more moralistic and religious-themed recordings, many of which are recitations rather than his usual crooning. Fearful that disc jockeys and jukebox operators would become hesitant to accept these non-traditional Williams recordings, thereby hurting the marketability of Williams's name, the name Luke the Drifter was employed to cloak the identity of the artist — though the source of the recordings was quite evident. Around this time, Williams released more hit songs, such as "My Son Calls Another Man Daddy", "They'll Never Take Her Love from Me", "Why Should We Try Anymore?", "Nobody's Lonesome for Me", "Long Gone Lonesome Blues", "Why Don't You Love Me?", "Moanin' the Blues" and "I Just Don't Like This Kind of Livin'". In 1951, "Dear John" became a hit but the B-side, "Cold, Cold Heart", has endured as one of his most famous songs, aided by the #1 pop version by Tony Bennett in 1951 being the first of many recordings of Williams' songs in a non-country genre. For the Wet Wet Wet song see Cold Cold Heart (Wet Wet Wet song. Tony Bennett (born Anthony Dominick Benedetto; August 3 1926) is an American Singer of popular music, standards ("Cold, Cold Heart" has subsequently been covered by Guy Mitchell, Casino Steel, Teresa Brewer, Dinah Washington, Lucinda Williams, Cowboy Junkies, Frankie Laine, Jo Stafford, and Norah Jones, among others). Guy Mitchell ( February 22, 1927 - July 1, 1999) was a Croatian-American pop Singer, was successful in his homeland Teresa Brewer ( May 7, 1931 &ndash October 17, 2007) was an American pop and jazz Singer who was one of the most popular Dinah Washington ( August 29, 1924 &ndash December 14, 1963) was a Blues, R&B and Jazz singer Lucinda Williams (born January 26, 1953) is an American rock, folk, and Country music singer and songwriter Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian Country music and Alternative rock band Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio ( Chicago, March 30, 1913 – San Diego, February 6, 2007) Jo Elizabeth Stafford ( November 12, 1917  &ndash July 16, 2008) was an American singer of Traditional pop music Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar on March 30 1979) is an American Singer-songwriter, Pianist, Keyboardist That same year, Williams released other hits, including the enduring classic "Crazy Heart".

Despite Hank's numerous country hits, the legend of Hank Williams seems to rest in the duality of his writings. On one hand, Hank would sing about having a rowdy time ("Honky Tonkin'") or drifting aimlessly ("Lost Highway"), but would then sing religious songs of remorse, most particularly, the title track to the album "I Saw The Light. "

Personal life

Hank Williams' life would become unmanageable due to his success. His marriage, always turbulent, was rapidly disintegrating, and he developed a serious problem with alcohol, morphine and other painkillers. In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon Medical uses Morphine can be used as an analgesic in hospital settings to relieve pain in Myocardial infarction pain in Much of this abuse came from attempts to ease his severe back pain. In 1952, Hank and Audrey separated and he moved in with his mother, even as he released numerous hit songs, such as "Half as Much", "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)", "Settin' the Woods on Fire", "You Win Again" and "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive". " Half as Much " is an American pop standard written by Curley Williams in 1951. Jambalaya the lyrics Goodbye Joe he gotta go me oh my ohHe gotta go pole th pirogue down the bayou Williams' drug problems continued to spiral out of control as he moved to Nashville and officially divorced his wife. A relationship with Bobby Jett during this period resulted in a daughter, Jett, who would be born just after his death. Jett Williams (born January 6, 1953) is an American Country music performer

In October 1952, Williams was fired from the Grand Ole Opry. Told not to return until he was sober, he instead rejoined the Louisiana Hayride. On October 18, 1952, he married Billie Jean Jones Eshlimar. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A ceremony was held at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium and 14,000 people bought tickets to attend. Soon after, the Drifting Cowboys decided to part ways with Williams. Their departure was due to Hank drinking more than a show would pay.

Death

On January 1, 1953, Williams was due to play in Canton, Ohio, but he was unable to fly due to weather problems. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Canton is a city in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Stark County. He hired a chauffeur and before leaving the old Andrew Johnson Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee, injected himself with B12 and morphine. Medical uses Morphine can be used as an analgesic in hospital settings to relieve pain in Myocardial infarction pain in He then left in a Cadillac, though contrary to popular belief, he did not have a bottle of whiskey with him. Cadillac is a Brand of Luxury vehicles owned by General Motors. He was trying to get his career back on track by proving to promoters that he could be sober and reliable. The only items found in the backseat of Hank's car were a few cans of beer and the hand-written lyrics to an unrecorded song.

When the seventeen year-old chauffeur Charles Carr pulled over at an all-night service station in Oak Hill, West Virginia, he discovered that Williams was unresponsive and becoming rigid[3] Upon closer examination, it was discovered that Hank Williams was dead. Oak Hill is a city in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States and is the primary city within the Oak Hill WV Micropolitan Statistical Area He was twenty-nine. Controversy has since surrounded Williams' death with some claiming Williams was dead before leaving Knoxville. [4]

Williams' final single was ominously titled "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive". " I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive " is a song written by Fred Rose and American Country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams, Five days after his death, his illegitimate daughter by Bobbie Jett (Jett Williams) was born. Jett Williams (born January 6, 1953) is an American Country music performer His widow, Billie Jean, married country singer Johnny Horton in September of that year (1953). Johnny Horton ( April 30, 1925  &ndash November 5, 1960) was an American Country music singer who was most famous

Legacy and influence

A life-size statue of Williams stands in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, where he began his music career
A life-size statue of Williams stands in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, where he began his music career

His son Hank Williams, Jr., daughter Jett Williams, grandson Hank Williams III, and granddaughters Hilary Williams and Holly Williams are also country musicians. Montgomery (məntˈgəmɜriː is the Capital, second most populous city and the 4th most populous metropolitan area in the Southern U Hank Williams Jr, (born Randall Hank Williams, May 26, 1949) is an American country Singer-songwriter and Musician Jett Williams (born January 6, 1953) is an American Country music performer Shelton Hank Williams III ( December 12, 1972) is an American musician Holly Williams (born March 12, 1981) is an American Singer/songwriter.

Williams ranked #2 in CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music in 2003. Country Music Television, or CMT as it is usually called is an American Country music -oriented Cable television network The 40 Greatest Men of Country Music is a three hour television special that first aired on March 28 2003 on CMT. His son, Hank, Jr. , ranked #20 on that same list.

Hank Williams' remains are interred at the Oakwood Annex in Montgomery, Alabama. Montgomery (məntˈgəmɜriː is the Capital, second most populous city and the 4th most populous metropolitan area in the Southern U His funeral was said to have been far larger than any ever held for a citizen of Alabama and is still, as of 2005, the largest such event ever held in Montgomery. Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Montgomery (məntˈgəmɜriː is the Capital, second most populous city and the 4th most populous metropolitan area in the Southern U As of 2007, more than fifty years after Williams' death, members of his Drifting Cowboys continue to tour and bring his music to generations of fans. The Drifting Cowboys were the backing group for American music legend Hank Williams.

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him #74 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published [5] The website "Acclaimedmusic" collates recommendations of albums and recording artists. There is a year-by-year recommendation for top artists. For the period 1940–1949, Hank Williams is ranked as number 1 for his song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry".

In February 2005 the Tennessee Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling stating that Hank Williams' heirs—son Hank Williams Jr. Hank Williams Jr, (born Randall Hank Williams, May 26, 1949) is an American country Singer-songwriter and Musician and daughter Jett Williams—have the sole rights to sell his old recordings made for a Nashville, Tennessee radio station in the early 1950s. Jett Williams (born January 6, 1953) is an American Country music performer The court rejected claims made by Polygram Records and Legacy Entertainment in releasing recordings Williams made for the Mother's Best Flour Show, a program that originally aired on WSM-AM. PolyGram was the name from 1972 of the Major label recording company started by Philips as a holding company for its music interests in 1945 WSM is the Callsign of a 50000 watt AM radio station located in Nashville Tennessee. The recordings, which Legacy Entertainment acquired in 1997, include live versions of Williams' hits and his cover version of other songs. Polygram contended that Williams' contract with MGM Records, which Polygram now owns, gave them rights to release the radio recordings. MGM Records was a Record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film studio in 1946 Jett Williams stated on her website in August 2007 that the "Mother's Best" recordings should be released in 2008. [6]

Awards

Year Award Awards Notes
1989 Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration Grammy with Hank Williams, Jr.
1989 Music Video of the Year CMA with Hank Williams, Jr.
1989 Vocal Event of the Year CMA with Hank Williams, Jr.
1989 Video of the Year Academy of Country Music with Hank Williams, Jr.
1990 Vocal Collaboration of the Year TNN/Music City News with Hank Williams, Jr.
1990 Video of the Year TNN/Music City News with Hank Williams, Jr.
2003 Ranked #2 of the 40 Greatest Men of Country Music CMT

Music videos

Year Video Notes
1989 "There's A Tear In My Beer" with Hank Williams, Jr.
"Honky Tonk Blues"

Singles

Year A-side Chart* B-side Chart*
1947 "Never Again (Will I Knock on Your Door)" — "Calling You" —
1947 "Wealth Won't Save Your Soul" — "When God Comes and Gathers His Jewels" —
1947 "My Love for You (Has Turned to Hate)" — "I Don't Care (If Tomorrow Never Comes)" —
1947 "Pan American" — "Honky Tonkin'" —
1947 "Move It On Over" 4 "I Heard You Crying in Your Sleep" —
1947 "On the Banks of the Old Pontchartrain" — "Fly Trouble" —
1948 "My Sweet Love Ain't Around" — "Rootie Tootie" —
1948 "Honky Tonkin'" 14 "I'll Be a Bachelor 'Til I Die" —
1948 "I'm a Long Gone Daddy" 6 "The Blues Come Around" —
1948 "I Saw the Light" — "Six More Miles (To the Graveyard)" —
1948 "A Mansion on the Hill" 12 "I Can't Get You Off of My Mind" —
1949 "Lovesick Blues" 1 "Never Again (Will I Knock on Your Door)" 6
1949 "Wedding Bells" 5 "I've Just Told Mama Goodbye" —
1949 "Mind Your Own Business" 5 "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" —
1949 "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)" 4 "Lost Highway" 12
1949 "My Bucket's Got a Hole In It" 2 "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" —
1950 "I Just Don't Like This Kind of Living" 5 "May You Never Be Alone" —
1950 "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" 1 "My Son Calls Another Man Daddy" 9
1950 "Why Don't You Love Me?" 1 "A House Without Love" —
1950 "Why Should We Try Anymore?" 9 "They'll Never Take Her Love from Me" 5
1950 "Moanin' the Blues" 1 "Nobody's Lonesome for Me" 9
1951 "Cold, Cold Heart" 1 "Dear John" 8
1951 "Howlin' at the Moon" 3 "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)" 2
1951 "Hey Good Lookin'" 1 "My Heart Would Know" —
1951 "(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle" 9 "Crazy Heart" 4
1951 "Baby, We're Really in Love" 4 "I'd Still Want You" —
1952 "Honky Tonk Blues" 2 "I'm Sorry for You, My Friend" —
1952 "Half as Much" 2 "Let's Turn Back the Years" —
1952 "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" 1 "Window Shopping" —
1952 "Settin' the Woods on Fire" 2 "You Win Again" 10
1952 "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" 1 "I Could Never Be Ashamed of You" —
1953 "Kaw-Liga" 1 "Your Cheatin' Heart" 1
1953 "Take These Chains from My Heart" 1 "Ramblin' Man" —
1953 "I Won't Be Home No More" 4 "My Love for You" —
1953 "Weary Blues from Waitin'" 7 "I Can't Escape from You" —
1955 "Please Don't Let Me Love You" 9 "Faded Love and Winter Roses" —
1966 "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (re-release) 43 "You Win Again" —
1976 "Why Don't You Love Me" (re-release) 61 "Ramblin' Man" —
1989 "There's a Tear in My Beer" 7 (dubbed recording with Hank Williams, Jr.)

Tributes

Songs which pay tribute to Hank Williams include:

Other songs include : "Hank, It Will Never Be the Same Without You", "Hank Williams Meets Jimmie Rodgers", "Tribute to Hank Williams", "Hank and Lefty Raised My Country Soul", "Hank Williams Will Live Forever", "The Ghost of Hank Williams," "Hank Williams Sings the Blues No More", "In Memory of Hank Williams", "Thanks Hank", "Hank's Home Town", "Good Old Boys Like Me" (Hank Williams and Tennessee Williams), , "Why Ain't I Half as Good as Old Hank (Since I'm Feeling All Dead Anyway)?", "The Last Letter" (Mississippi disc jockey Jimmy Swan's reading of a letter to Williams by M-G-M boss Frank Walker) and Charley Pride's album There's a Little Bit of Hank in Me. Aaron Dupree Tippin (born July 3 1958 in Pensacola Florida and reached a peak of #6 on the Billboard country charts Jerry Jeff Walker (born March 16, 1942) is a Country music singer Dallas Wayne is an Austin Texas-based singer and songwriter as well as on-air radio personality for SIRIUS Satellite Radio. Hank Williams Jr, (born Randall Hank Williams, May 26, 1949) is an American country Singer-songwriter and Musician Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician Charley Frank Pride (born March 18, 1938) is a Country music artist (Brackett 2000, p. 219n22).

The play Hank Williams: Lost Highway is a tribute to Hank Williams. It is a recount of his life.

"Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" sung by George Jones refers to Hank Williams when he sings "You know the heart of country music still beats in Luke the Drifter, you can tell it when he sang 'I Saw the Light'. George Glenn Jones (born September 12, 1931 in Saratoga Texas) is an award-winning American Country music singer known for his long list of "

On the album Show Me Your Tears, Frank Black's song "Everything Is New" recounts the tragedy of both Hank Williams' and Johnny Horton's deaths. Show Me Your Tears is the final album to be released to date by Frank Black and the Catholics. The lyrics relevant are: "Hiram said to John have you met my wife? Someday she'll be yours when I lose my life. He lost it after playing the old Skyline. Seven years later, after that same gig, John took the wheel, but when he got to the bridge Billy Jean was alone for the second time. " Billy Jean of course refers to Billie Jean Jones (Jones being her maiden name) who married both Hiram "Hank" Williams and, later, John "Johnny" Horton. Both men died in vehicles, and both played their last (separate) concerts at Austin, Texas's "the old Skyline" Club (as the song mentions). [1]

FEAR, The seminal LA punk band also wrote a song about Hank; "Hank Williams was queer" which appeared on their Budweiser 7". [7]

Quotes

References

  1. ^ Hemphill, Paul (2005). Leonard Norman Cohen CC GOQ (born September 21, 1934 in Westmount, Quebec) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter Lovesick Blues: The Life of Hank Williams. New York: Penguin Group. ISBN 0-670-03414-2.  
  2. ^ Escott, Colin (1994). Hank Williams: The Biography. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0-316-24986-6.  
  3. ^ www.vitia.org/wordpress/2003/09/26/this-isnt-hanks-story/.
  4. ^ www.metropulse.com/dir_zine/dir_2002/1250/t_cover.html.
  5. ^ The Immortals: The First Fifty. Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone.
  6. ^ www.jettwilliams.com/news.htm.
  7. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budweiser_(single)
  8. ^ Gleason, Ralph (06-28-1969). Ralph J Gleason (1917-1975 was an influential American Jazz and pop music critic 1952 interview of Hank Williams. Rolling Stone.
  9. ^ Cohen, Leonard (2004-09-17). Leonard Norman Cohen CC GOQ (born September 21, 1934 in Westmount, Quebec) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Who held a gun to Leonard Cohen's head?. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2006-06-20. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun.

External links

Persondata
NAME Hiram King Williams
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hank Williams
SHORT DESCRIPTION Country Music Artist
DATE OF BIRTH September 20, 1923
PLACE OF BIRTH Georgiana, Alabama, United States of America
DATE OF DEATH January 01, 1953
PLACE OF DEATH Oak Hill, West Virginia, United States of America
Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. The definition of an artist is wide-ranging and covers a broad spectrum of Activities to do with creating Art, practicing the Arts and/or demonstrating Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Georgiana is a town in Butler County, Alabama, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Oak Hill is a city in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States and is the primary city within the Oak Hill WV Micropolitan Statistical Area The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
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