An immensely talented songwriter and an impassioned vocalist, he also experienced great crossover success in the popular music market. His iconic status was amplified by his death at age 29 and by his reputation for hard living and heart-on-the-sleeve vulnerability.
What is Hank Williams famous for?
(Show more) Hank Williams, byname of Hiram Williams, also called the Hillbilly Shakespeare, (born September 17, 1923, Georgiana, Alabama, U.S.—died January 1, 1953, Oak Hill, West Virginia), American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who in the 1950s arguably became country music ’s first superstar.
Is Hank Williams the first country music superstar?
Hank Williams, byname of Hiram King Williams, also called the Hillbilly Shakespeare, (born Sept. 17, 1923, Georgiana, Ala., U.S.—died Jan. 1, 1953, Oak Hill, W.Va.), American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who in the 1950s arguably became country music’s first superstar.
How well do you know Hank Williams?
Hank Williams became one of America's first country music superstars, with hits like "Your Cheatin' Heart," before his early death at 29. Who Was Hank Williams?
What were Hank Williams Jr's two passions?
It was there Hank would be given the opportunity to explore what would become his life's two greatest passions: music and alcohol. Music was a big part of life in the lumber camps, and Williams received his first exposure to true Southern country music.
See more
What made Hank Williams so popular?
His first MGM single, "Move It On Over," sold 108,000 copies in less than a year. His growing popularity enabled Williams to secure a position on a bigger radio show, the Louisiana Hayride, which was broadcast out of Shreveport, Louisiana. It was the biggest listening audience he had ever reached.
How did Hank Williams changed country music?
It praised him “for his craftsmanship as a songwriter who expressed universal feelings with poignant simplicity and played a pivotal role in transforming country music into a major musical and cultural force in American life.” Though little is known about the man behind the music, a new box set of a Nashville radio ...
Why is Hank Williams in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Williams brought country music into the modern era. He was an astonishingly prolific songwriter, a supremely expressive singer and a performer who blended barely repressed sexuality with an aura of tragic doom.
Who was influenced by Hank Williams?
Hank Williams is cited as an influence by a gazillion big names ranging from Johnny Cash to The Beatles. But probably his most interesting legacy is his own children and grandchildren, all music stars to various levels. His first son, Hank Williams Jr., has enjoyed the greatest success of any of the descendants.
Why was Hank Williams Jr kicked out of the Grand Ole Opry?
But Williams, who died at 29 in 1953, is not technically a member. In fact, he was unceremoniously fired from the Opry in 1952 after missing a scheduled appearance, a casualty of his heavy drinking.
What is Hank Williams most famous song?
Top 10 Hank Williams Songs"Your Cheatin' Heart" ... "(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle" ... "Lovesick Blues" ... "Cold, Cold Heart" ... "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" ... "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" ... "Hey Good Lookin'" ... "I Saw the Light"More items...•
Are there any country music singers in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
They include Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers and Johnny Cash, not to mention Elvis Presley, whose vocal alchemy turned country and blues into rock.
Is Hank Williams in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame?
In 1961, Hank was elected a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters' Hall of Fame.
Is Johnny Cash in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Johnny Cash was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 — and on this day 12 years later, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame afforded him the same honor.
Who were the Drifting Cowboys?
Don HelmsSteel guitarJerry RiversHank WilliamsGuitarHillous ButrumBassCedric RainwaterBassWilliam Herbert YorkBassDrifting Cowboys/Members
How can I sing like Hank Williams?
0:331:35Hiddleston Learns to Yodel Like Hank Williams - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt. The big dogs moving him but I can tell when she goes flat. And I can tell when it's you know herMoreIt. The big dogs moving him but I can tell when she goes flat. And I can tell when it's you know her version of a yodels really just a crack.
Did Tom Hiddleston sing in I Saw the Light?
For his role as Hank Williams in the upcoming biopic I Saw the Light, actor Tom Hiddleston worked with singer-songwriter and Williams acolyte Rodney Crowell to master the country legend's singing style. Ahead of the April 1st release of the film, Hiddleston's vocals are on display on the movie's official soundtrack.
What is the history of country music?
Country music originated in the early twentieth century among working-class Americans living in the south, especially in the Appalachian Mountains. Generations of musicians had blended English ballads with Celtic and Irish fiddle songs, adding influences from various European immigrants who settled nearby.
Who influenced Rufus Payne?
But his influence on country music and one particular performer in particular, Hank Williams, has been documented through the years. He was living in Greenville, Alabama when a youngster by the name of Hiram Williams met him.
Who wrote the song Lovesick Blues?
Cliff FriendLovesick Blues / ComposerCliff Friend was an accomplished songwriter and pianist. A member of Tin Pan Alley, Friend co-wrote several hits including "Lovesick Blues", "My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now" and "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down", also known as the theme song to the Looney Tunes cartoon series. Wikipedia
Is Hank Williams Blues?
But those who know his career well, they know Hank is one of the most underrated musicians in country music, skilled on multiple instruments. They also know that he's a veritable encyclopedia of the blues, building out from it to form the very foundation of his music just like his daddy did. Hank is a bluesman first.
What was Hank Williams' biggest hit?
A major hit for Hank Williams, " Lovesick Blues " moved him to the mainstream of country music and assured him a position in the Grand Ole Opry.
How many hits did Hank Williams have?
Hiram " Hank " Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he recorded 35 singles (five released posthumously) that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers ...
What was the last song that Williams sang?
Williams's final single, released in November 1952 while he was still alive, was titled " I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive ". His song "Your Cheatin' Heart" was written and recorded in September 1952, but released in late January 1953 after his death. The song, backed by " Kaw-Liga ", was No. 1 on the country charts for six weeks. It provided the title for the 1964 biographical film of the same name, which starred George Hamilton as Williams. "Take These Chains From My Heart" was released in April 1953 and reached No. 1 on the country charts. Released in July, "I Won't Be Home No More" went to No. 4. Meanwhile, "Weary Blues From Waitin'" reached No. 7.
Why did Ted Williams not fly to Nashville?
Advance ticket sales totaled $3,500. That day, Williams could not fly because of an ice storm in the Nashville area; he hired a college student, Charles Carr, to drive him to the concerts. Carr called the Charleston auditorium from Knoxville to say that Williams would not arrive on time owing to the ice storm and was instead ordered to drive Williams to Canton, Ohio, for a New Year's Day concert there. The two arrived at the Andrew Johnson Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Carr requested a doctor for Williams, who was affected by the combination of the chloral hydrate and alcohol he had drunk on the way to Knoxville. Dr. P. H. Cardwell injected Williams with two shots of vitamin B 12 that also contained a quarter-grain of morphine. Carr and Williams checked out of the hotel, but the porters had to carry Williams to the car as he was coughing and hiccuping.
Where is Hiram Williams?
Williams's family house in Georgiana, Alabama . Williams was born Hiram Williams on September 17, 1923, in the rural community of Mount Olive in Butler County, Alabama. He was the third child of Jessie Lillybelle "Lillie" (née Skipper) and Elonzo Huble "Lon" Williams.
When did Hank Williams change his name?
In July 1937, the Williams and McNeils opened a boarding house on South Perry Street in downtown Montgomery. It was at this time that Williams decided to change his name informally from Hiram to Hank. Williams told a story in later concerts that attributed his name change to a cat's yowling.
Where did the Williams family live?
In the fall of 1934, the Williams family moved to Greenville, Alabama, where Lillie opened a boarding house next to the Butler County courthouse. In 1935, they settled in Garland, Alabama, where Lillie opened a new boarding house; they later moved with Williams's cousin Opal McNeil to Georgiana, Alabama, where Lillie took several side jobs to support the family 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. Their first house burned down, and the family lost their possessions. They moved to a new house on the other side of town on Rose Street, which Williams's mother soon turned into another boarding house. The house had a small garden on which they grew diverse crops that Williams and his sister Irene sold around Georgiana. At a chance meeting in Georgiana, Williams met U.S. Representative J. Lister Hill while Hill was campaigning across Alabama. He told Hill that his mother was interested in talking to him about his problems and her need to collect Elonzo's disability pension. With Hill's help, the family began collecting the money. Despite his medical condition, the family managed fairly well financially throughout the Great Depression.
Who Was Hank Williams?
Hank Williams is considered one of the most popular American country music singer/songwriters with songs like "Cold, Cold Heart," "Your Cheatin' Heart," "Hey, Good Lookin'" and "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." He died of a heart attack at the age of 29 in 1953 in the backseat of his Cadillac.
Where was Hank Williams born?
Widely considered country music's first superstar, Hiram "Hank" Williams was born September 17, 1923, in Mount Olive, Alabama. Cut from rural stock, Williams, the third child of Lon and Lillie Williams, grew up in a household that never had much money. His father worked as a logger before entering the Veterans Administration hospital when young Hank was just six. Father and son rarely saw each other over the next decade, with Williams' mother, who ran rooming houses, moving the family to Greenville and later Montgomery, Alabama .
How old was Hank Williams when he started playing guitar?
Picking up the guitar for the first time at the age of eight, Williams was just 13 when he made his radio debut. A year later he was entering talent shows and had his own band, Hank Williams and his Drifting Cowboys. In full support of Williams' musical aspirations was his mother, Lillie.
What was the name of the company that Williams wrote for Molly O'Day?
What began with Williams writing material for singer Molly O'Day eventually gave way to a record contract with the recently created MGM label.
Where did Hank Williams' mother move to?
Father and son rarely saw each other over the next decade, with Williams' mother, who ran rooming houses, moving the family to Greenville and later Montgomery, Alabama.
Who played Williams in I Saw the Light?
His life and career were the subject of I Saw the Light, a 2015 biopic, starring Tom Hiddleston as Williams and Elizabeth Olsen as his first wife, Audrey.
Who was the mother of the band that played bass for Williams?
Married Man. Williams' personal life took a major turn in 1943 when he met Audrey Mae Sheppard, who was the mother of a young daughter and had only recently left a messy marriage. Under Williams' guidance, Sheppard started playing bass and began performing in his band. Williams and Sheppard married in 1944.
What is the key to Hank Williams' long-lasting popularity?
The key to Williams' long-lasting popularity "is passion, " concluded Escott. "The entire range of human emotions is within these recordings: love, hate, envy, joy, guilt, despair, remorse, playfulness, sorrow, and more. The lyrics were simple, but simplicity does not preclude meaning. In writing for the man who could barely sign his name, Hank Williams wrote for us all." He cited some of Williams' more poignant lyrics, noting: "There can be few who haven't felt as though Hank Williams has read their mail, their diary, or their mind."
Who is Hank Williams?
In his tragically short career, Hank Williams (1923-1953) became one of the most famous country and western performers in the United States. He wrote and recorded songs that are still considered to be country music standards.
What happened to Hank Williams' daughter Jett?
Lawsuits continued into the late 1980s between Hank Williams, Jr., and the "lost daughter" of Hank Williams, Sr., who was conceived during a short affair Williams had after his first wife threw him out of the house. Jett Williams was born five days after her father's death. Like her half brother, she later launched a singing career and hired several members of her father's Drifting Cowboys to play backup.
Who edited the history of country music?
The Illustrated History of Country Music, edited by Patrick Carr, Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1979.
Is Hank Williams a Cadillac?
In The Illustrated History of Country Music, music legend Johnny Cash stated, "Hank Williams is like a Cadillac. He'll always be the standard for comparison." Williams' trademark hillbilly-tinged sound remains a country music staple. In 1990, Poly Gram Records released a popular collection of every known single he recorded. In 1998, famed auction house Christie's, auctioned off one of his old Gibson guitars. The guitar fetched $112,000. Clearly, Williams continues to lure fans.
What was Hank Williams' passion?
It was there Hank would be given the opportunity to explore what would become his life's two greatest passions: music and alcohol. Music was a big part of life in the lumber camps, and Williams received his first exposure to true Southern country music.
What band did Hank Williams play with?
With his WSFA wages, he linked up with another young musician, Smith Adair, and formed a band called the Drifting Cowboys, per Sing a Sad Song. They began to tour around Alabama, charging 25 cents a show. The only problem was that Williams, still school age, had to arrange performance dates around his school schedule. In October of 1939, he dropped out so he could tour with the band full time, per Lovesick Blues.
Why did Hank Williams leave the Drifting Cowboys?
When America joined World War II in 1941, the Drifting Cowboys were starting to come apart. By 1942, all the members of the band were drafted except for Hank Williams. Due to his bad back, he received a 4-F deferment from the draft, but there was no hope for continuing the band, per Lovesick Blues. Most young musicians were leaving to fight in the war, and any remaining potential replacements refused to work with Williams on account of his drunkenness and general unreliability. The WSFA radio station was also fed up with his behavior, and in August 1942, Williams was let go from his job at the WSFA for "habitual drunkenness," according to I Saw the Light.
How old was Hank Williams when he died?
A lonely and troubled man, Williams struggled with chronic pain and substance abuse issues that would hinder his success and ultimately lead to his untimely death at just 29-years-old. Williams lived fast, both personally and ...
What was the name of the song that Williams sang?
But in the short amount of time he had, Williams gave the world a series of hits, from "Cold, Cold Heart" to "Hey Good Lookin"' to "I Saw the Light, " that delighted fans and influenced music for decades to come.
Where was Hank's mother?
Hank's mother, Lillie, and father, Lon, had briefly settled in a rural area of Alabama called Mount Olive, to start their family. Lillie gave birth to Hank on September 17, 1923, per Biography . Hank was born with a spinal condition, known as spina bifida occulta, which was not well understood at the time.
Where did Hank the dog live?
When Hank turned 10, in the fall of 1933, his mother sent him to live with his aunt and uncle in a lumber camp 50 miles west in Monroe County, Alabama.
What was Hank Williams' contribution to music?
His were the first country songs to cross over into the mainstream and they continue to do so today.
How old was Hank Williams when he died?
Hank Williams, one of America's greatest songwriters, a man who had changed the course of country music forever, a performer who made rock'n'roll possible, had, after a short life of trouble, died aged just 29. He looked 50.
What did Audrey and Lillie do to Hank?
Audrey and Lillie made no secret of their loathing for each other. Their often open warfare to control Hank and his soaring income left Hank with little control over his own life. Both women regularly beat him up over one or other of his many weaknesses, usually his excessive drinking. Neither was above emptying his pockets when he was out cold. Audrey's ability to spend as quickly as Hank earned, forced him into increasingly punishing schedules. Benzedrine kept him pumped up to perform shows. Quack doctors prescribed him chloral hydrate and morphine to ease the back pain. Booze brought him down so that he could sleep.
Why was Hank Williams sacked?
Bruised, battered, boozed-up, drug-dependent, divorced again by Audrey, incontinent and impotent, and recently sacked from the Opry for unreliability, perhaps Hank knew what was coming: the record he had in the charts that lonely New Year's morning of 1953 in Nowheresville, West Virginia, was, "I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive".
What station did Hank Williams listen to?
His enthusiasm for music was fired by listening to stations such as the 50,000-watt WSM, out of Nashville, whose Saturday-night live broadcast – the Grand Ole Opry – featured the biggest names in hillbilly music and could be heard from Canada to the Mexican border.
How did Hank die?
Even in death, Hank wasn't safe from predators. As he lay on the slab at Oak Hill Hospital, souvenir-hunters looted his car. The owner of the gas station at which his corpse was discovered, grabbed Hank's hat and wore it shamelessly for years. A cursory autopsy at Oak Hill put the cause of death down to heart failure and noted that Hank had recently been in a fight. Alcohol was found in his blood, but no attempt was made to look for drugs.
What did Little Hank do in the church?
Little Hank sang in the choir of the local Baptist church, where he couldn't escape the message of the hellfire and brimstone preachers: the wage of sin is eternal damnation. It is clear from Hank's gospel recordings, years later (as Luke the Drifter), that this sense of terror and spiritual unrest never ceased to torment him.
What are some interesting facts about Hank Williams?
8 Things You Didn't Know About Hank Williams. Hank Williams Sr. is one of the most celebrated country music artists of all time. He's a Grand Ole Opry member, a Country Music Hall of Fame member, a country radio station mainstay, a beloved hillbilly and an icon of American music.
Who is Hank Williams named after?
Williams was named for Hiram I of Tyre, one of the three founders of the Freemasons according to Masonic legend. But don't worry Hank, even if your first name is a little funky, I'm still in love with you. I can't help it! (So is everyone else too.) 3.
How many songs did Hank Williams write?
Over a five-year span, Hank Williams Sr. recorded 225 country songs, of which he wrote 128 of them. "I Saw the Light", "Move it On Over", "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive", "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" -- if there's a Williams song you like chances are the country singer put one of his number one hits on record during that span.
What happened to Lon Williams?
Lon Williams served from July 1918 until June 1919 and was severely injured when he fell off a truck. The fall broke his collarbone and caused a serious head injury as well.
Where was Hank Williams born?
Hank Williams was born in Mount Olive, Alabama in 1923 and also lived in Greenville and Georgiana, Alabama as a kid during the Great Depression. The family eventually moved to Montgomery. 2. He's Got a Weird Name. Okay, no. "Hank" isn't a weird name. But Hank is just his nickname.
When did the Lovesick Blues perform at the Grand Ole Opry?
At the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in 1949, the audience begged the "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "Lovesick Blues" singer to perform a record six encores. That has never been topped. He definitely didn't have the honky-tonk blues that night.
Who is Cold Heart?
The "Cold, Cold Heart" performer is a member of the first Country Music Hall of Fame class along with Jimmie Rodgers and Fred Rose. 5. He's a Pulitzer Winner. Unfortunately, however, this superstar didn't get to enjoy the award while alive. The songwriter was given the award posthumously in 2010.
Overview
In popular culture
• In the 1964 biopic Your Cheatin' Heart, Williams in portrayed onscreen by actor George Hamilton.
• In the 1980 Canadian film, Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave, Williams is portrayed by singer Sneezy Waters.
• In the 2015 biopic I Saw the Light, English actor Tom Hiddleston appears as Williams and Elizabeth Olsen appears as Audrey Williams.
Early life
Williams was born Hiram Williams on September 17, 1923, in the rural community of Mount Olive in Butler County, Alabama. He was the third child of Jessie Lillybelle "Lillie" (née Skipper) (1898–1955) and Elonzo Huble "Lon" Williams (1891–1970). Elonzo was a railroad engineer for the W. T. Smith lumber company and was drafted during World War I, serving from July 1918 to June 1…
Career
In July 1937, the Williams and McNeils opened a boarding house on South Perry Street in downtown Montgomery. It was at this time that Williams decided to change his name informally from Hiram to Hank. Williams told a story in later concerts that attributed his name change to a cat's yowling. The authors of Hank Williams: The Biography pointed out that "Hank" sounded more "like a hill…
Personal life
On December 15, 1944, Williams married Audrey Sheppard. It was her second marriage and his first. Their son, Randall Hank Williams (now known as Hank Williams Jr.), was born on May 26, 1949. The marriage was always turbulent and rapidly disintegrated, and Williams developed serious problems with alcohol, morphine, and other painkillers prescribed for him to ease the severe back pain caused by his spina bifida occulta. The couple divorced on May 29, 1952. In Ju…
Death
Williams was scheduled to perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Charleston, West Virginia, on December 31, 1952. Advance ticket sales totaled $3,500. That day, Williams could not fly because of an ice storm in the Nashville area; he hired a college student, Charles Carr, to drive him to the concerts. Carr called the Charleston auditorium from Knoxville to say that Williams would not arrive on t…
Legacy
Williams has been called "the King of Country Music" in popular culture. Alabama governor Gordon Persons officially proclaimed September 21 "Hank Williams Day". The first celebration, in 1954, featured the unveiling of a monument at the Cramton Bowl that was later placed at the gravesite of Williams. The ceremony featured Ferlin Husky interpreting "I Saw the Light". Will…
Further reading
• Williams, Lycrecia; Dale Vinicur (1989). Still in Love with You: Hank and Audrey Williams. Nashville, Tenn.: Rutledge Hill Press. ISBN 978-1-55853-105-5. OCLC 42469829.
• Rivers, Jerry (1967). Thurston Moore (ed.). Hank Williams: From Life to Legend. Denver: Heather Enterprises. LCCN 67030642. OCLC 902165.