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Hank Williams

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Hank Williams

Hiram "Hank" Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. An early pioneer of country music, he is regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of the 20th century. Williams recorded 55 singles that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, five of which were released posthumously, and 12 of which reached No.1. Born and raised in Alabama, Williams learned guitar from African-American blues musician Rufus Payne. Both Payne and Roy Acuff significantly influenced his musical style. After winning an amateur talent contest, Williams began his professional career in Montgomery in the late 1930s playing on local radio stations and at area venues such as school houses, movie theaters, and bars. He formed the Drifting Cowboys backup band, which was managed by his mother, and dropped out of school to devote his time to his career. Because his alcoholism made him unreliable, he was fired and rehired several times by radio station WSFA. Williams also had trouble replacing several of his band members who were drafted during World War II. In 1944, Williams married Audrey Sheppard, who competed with his mother to control his career. After recording "Never Again" and "Honky Tonkin'" with Sterling Records, he signed a contract with MGM Records. He released the hit single "Move It On Over" in 1947 and joined the Louisiana Hayride radio program. The next year he released a cover of "Lovesick Blues", which quickly reached number one on Billboard's Top Country & Western singles chart and propelled him to stardom on the Grand Ole Opry. Although unable to read or notate music to any significant degree, he wrote such iconic hits as "Your Cheatin' Heart", "Hey, Good Lookin'", and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". During his final years, he struggled with back pain and substance abuse, exacerbating his relationships with Audrey and the Grand Ole Opry. Williams died on New Year's Day 1953 at the age of 29, his heart failing in the back seat of a car near Oak Hill, West Virginia, en route to a concert in Canton, Ohio. Despite his relatively brief career, he is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century, especially in country music. Many artists have covered his songs and he has influenced Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones, among others. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame in 1999, and gained a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2010, he was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation 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." His life and career were dramatized in the 2015 biopic I Saw the Light.

Infobox

Born
Hiram Williams(1923-09-17)September 17, 1923Butler County, Alabama, U.S.
Died
January 1, 1953(1953-01-01) (aged 29)Oak Hill, West Virginia, U.S.
Resting place
Oakwood Annex Cemetery, Montgomery, Alabama 32°23′05″N 86°17′29″W / 32.3847°N 86.2913°W / 32.3847; -86.2913
Other names
mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li The Singing KidLovesick Blues BoyLuke the DrifterThe Hillbilly Shakespeare
Occupations
Singersongwritermusician
Years active
1937–1953
Spouses
mw- Audrey Sheppard (m. 1944; div. 1952) Billie Jean Horton (m. 1952)
Children
Hank Williams Jr.Jett
Relatives
Hank Williams III (grandson) Holly Williams (granddaughter) Sam Williams (grandson) Coleman Williams (great-grandson)
Genres
CountryWesternhonky-tonkgospelbluesproto-rockabilly
Instruments
Vocalsguitarfiddle
Labels
SterlingMGM
Formerly of
The Drifting Cowboys

Tables

· Awards
1987
1987
Year
1987
Award
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Awards
29th Annual Grammy Awards
Notes
Posthumously
1989
1989
Year
1989
Award
Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration ("There's a Tear in My Beer")
Awards
Grammy
Notes
with Hank Williams Jr.
1989
1989
Year
1989
Award
Music Video of the Year ("There's a Tear in My Beer")
Awards
CMA
Notes
with Hank Williams Jr.
1989
1989
Year
1989
Award
Vocal Event of the Year ("There's a Tear in My Beer")
Awards
CMA
Notes
with Hank Williams Jr.
1990
1990
Year
1990
Award
Video of the Year ("There's a Tear in My Beer")
Awards
Academy of Country Music
Notes
with Hank Williams Jr.
1990
1990
Year
1990
Award
Vocal Collaboration of the Year ("There's a Tear in My Beer")
Awards
TNN/Music City News
Notes
with Hank Williams Jr.
1990
1990
Year
1990
Award
Video of the Year ("There's a Tear in My Beer")
Awards
TNN/Music City News
Notes
with Hank Williams Jr.
2010
2010
Year
2010
Award
Special Awards and Citation for his pivotal role in transforming country music
Awards
The Pulitzer Prize
Notes
Posthumously
Year
Award
Awards
Notes
References
1987
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
29th Annual Grammy Awards
Posthumously
1989
Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration ("There's a Tear in My Beer")
Grammy
with Hank Williams Jr.
1989
Music Video of the Year ("There's a Tear in My Beer")
CMA
with Hank Williams Jr.
1989
Vocal Event of the Year ("There's a Tear in My Beer")
CMA
with Hank Williams Jr.
1990
Video of the Year ("There's a Tear in My Beer")
Academy of Country Music
with Hank Williams Jr.
1990
Vocal Collaboration of the Year ("There's a Tear in My Beer")
TNN/Music City News
with Hank Williams Jr.
1990
Video of the Year ("There's a Tear in My Beer")
TNN/Music City News
with Hank Williams Jr.
2010
Special Awards and Citation for his pivotal role in transforming country music
The Pulitzer Prize
Posthumously

References

  1. His middle name is often misreported as "King", which originated from a misunderstanding that he was named after King Hi
  2. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 6.
  3. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 4–6.
  4. "Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing - Hank Williams"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20241111193500/https://birthplaceofwesternswing.com/williams.html#:~:text=Williams%20was%20born%20in%20Butler,Smith%20lumber%20company
  5. Wales: A Historical Companion
    https://books.google.com/books?id=I2qoAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT21
  6. "Luke the Drifter and the Secrets of Country | ABCtales"
    https://www.abctales.com/story/carl-halling/luke-drifter-and-secrets-country
  7. "Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing - Hank Williams"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20241111193500/https://birthplaceofwesternswing.com/williams.html#:~:text=Williams%20was%20born%20in%20Butler,he%20was%20of%20English%20ancestry
  8. Hank: The Short Life and Long Country Road of Hank Williams
    https://books.google.com/books?id=JeOaCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT15
  9. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 5.
  10. Ribowsky, Mark 2016, p. 15.
  11. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 6–7.
  12. Koon, George William 2001, p. 10.
  13. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 11.
  14. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 7.
  15. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, p. 9.
  16. Williams, Roger M. 1981, pp. 8–10.
  17. Hemphill, Paul 2005, pp. 18–21.
  18. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 13–14.
  19. Williams, Roger M. 1981, pp. 10–14.
  20. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 27.
  21. Hemphill, Paul 2005, pp. 16–17.
  22. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 20.
  23. Betts, Stephen L. 2019.
  24. Williams, Roger M. 1981, pp. 20–26.
  25. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, p. 12.
  26. Hemphill, Paul 2005, p. 23.
  27. Brackett, David 2000, p. 98.
  28. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 21–23.
  29. Masino, Susan 2011, p. 11.
  30. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, p. 229.
  31. Rankin, Allen 1951, p. 3C.
  32. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 19–21.
  33. Koon, George William 2001, p. 16.
  34. Koon, George William 2001, p. 28.
  35. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 16–17.
  36. Hemphill, Paul 2005, p. 30.
  37. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 20–21.
  38. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 37.
  39. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 16–18.
  40. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, p. 24.
  41. Hemphill, Paul 2005, pp. 34–37.
  42. Hemphill, Paul 2005, pp. 39–40.
  43. Lipsitz 1994, p. 26.
  44. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, p. 33.
  45. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 34–35, 38–39.
  46. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 23–24.
  47. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 42.
  48. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 41–42.
  49. Williams, Hank 1945.
  50. Williams, Roger M. 1981, pp. 56–57.
  51. Williams, Roger M. 1981, pp. 58–60.
  52. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 59–60.
  53. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 64–65.
  54. Williams, Roger M. 1981, pp. 66–67.
  55. Williams, Roger M. 1981, pp. 69–71.
  56. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 98–99.
  57. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 100.
  58. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 109, 113, 116.
  59. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 41–42.
  60. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 46–50.
  61. Koon, George William 2001, p. 43.
  62. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, p. 131.
  63. Young, William H. & Young, Nancy K. 2010, p. 235.
  64. Koon, George William 2001, p. 50.
  65. Hemphill, Paul 2005, pp. 117–118.
  66. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 129.
  67. Hurd, Mary G. 2015, p. 12.
  68. Wilmeth 2014, p. 250.
  69. Hemphill, Paul 2005, pp. 118.
  70. Billboard staff 1951, p. 19.
  71. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 155–159.
  72. Whitburn, Joel 1991, p. 26.
  73. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, p. 190.
  74. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, p. 180–181.
  75. Ribowsky, Mark 2016, p. 191.
  76. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 191–193.
  77. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 153, 154.
  78. Koon, George William 2001, p. 63.
  79. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 63, 153–154.
  80. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, p. 209, 211.
  81. CMHoF 2023a.
  82. CMHoF 2023b.
  83. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 209, 226–227.
  84. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 213–216.
  85. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 201-204.
  86. Williams, Roger M. 1981, pp. 197–199.
  87. Koon, George William 2001, p. 70.
  88. Koon, George William 2001, p. 67.
  89. Koon, George William 2001, p. 74.
  90. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 255–256.
  91. Koon, George William 2001, p. 75, 154.
  92. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 212.
  93. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 22–24.
  94. Koon, George William 2001, p. 40.
  95. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 26, 36–38.
  96. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 9–10.
  97. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 96.
  98. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, p. 202.
  99. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 193.
  100. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 195.
  101. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 65–67.
  102. Williams, Hilary & Roberts, Mary Beth 2010, p. 127.
  103. Koon, George William 2001, pp. 68–70.
  104. Williams, Roger M. 1981, pp. 233–236.
  105. Ribowsky, Mark 2016, p. 43.
  106. Lilly, John 2002, pp. 64–65.
  107. Williams, Roger M. 1981, p. 213.
  108. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 265–266.
  109. Olson, Ted 2004, p. 295.
  110. Olson, Ted 2004, pp. 296–298.
  111. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, p. 267.
  112. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 268–270.
  113. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, p. 271.
  114. Koon, George William 2001, p. 78.
  115. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 275–276.
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  118. Hemphill, Paul 2005, p. 190.
  119. Peterson, Richard A. 1997, p. 182.
  120. Billboard staff 1953a, p. 15.
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  122. Escott, Colin, Merritt, George & MacEwen, William 2009, pp. 288–289.
  123. Whitburn, Joel 2002, p. 391.
  124. CMHoF 2023c.
  125. Wallenfeldt, Jeff 2023.
  126. RockHall 2023.
  127. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas 2013.
  128. Tucker, Ken 1998.
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    https://books.google.com/books?id=o_Y5AQAAIAAJ&q=%22kissing%20Daddy%22
  130. Outlook staff 1954, p. 1.
  131. Andersen, Fred 1954, pp. 1-2.
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-montgomery-adv/53590768/
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  144. Walk of Fame staff 2013.
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  146. Hemphill, Paul 2005, pp. 192–193.
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  200. Goldsmith, Thomas & Oermann, Robert K. 1990, p. 3D.
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