HANK WILLIAMS king of country

Hank was born Hiram King Williams in Georgiana, Alabama in 1923.

Hank was born Hiram King Williams in Georgiana, Alabama in 1923. He started his singing career in his church choir when he was just 6 years old, within a year he had learnt to play the guitar. When he was 13 he formed his first band the Drifting Cowboys on and off for the next ten years they played on local radio.

At 17 years old Hank went to Texas to become a cowboy however drink caused him to get thrown by a bronc. The back injury he received was to plague him for the rest of his life.

1944 saw Hank marry his girlfriend Audrey at a gas station. He had met her at a medicine show and the love hate relationship was to become the subject of some of Hank's biggest hits. Audrey was fiercely ambitious, and she drove Hank to new heights.

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Move It On Over

Louisiana Hayride

1946 Hank signed with Sterling Records and was introduced to Molly O'Day who was the first artist to record an Hank Williams song. Molly was to encourage Hank's Gospel writing. The then legendary recording executive Fred Rose took Hank under his wing becoming not only his manager but helping Hank polish many of his compositions.

It was Fred who arranged Hank's recording contract with MGM and his first release 'Move It On Over'. Shortly after Hank signed for the Louisiana Hayride but it wasn't until he sang Lovesick Blues on the Grand Ol Opry in 1949 (a performance that resulted in 6 demand encores.) that he became a major country star.

Despite worries over Hank's drinking the Opry invited him to join the cast in Nashville and for the next few years Hank was to dominate not just the music charts but country music in general. Everyone wanted to sing an Hank Williams song and singers were changing their styles to sound just like Hank.

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I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive

New Years Day 1953

Despite all this success Hank was a mess, his personal life was crumbling around him he was drinking heavily and popping pills resulting in him missing gigs, he got suspended by the Opry and Audrey divorced him.

He was to marry Billie Jean Jones soon after. The end for Hank was as enigmatic as his life, he was in the back seat of his Cadillac being driven from Oak Hill Virginia to a gig in Canton Ohio, when he died it was New Years Day 1953 just as his life came to an end his latest record had it the charts it was 'I'll never get out of this world alive'. 20,000 mourners attended his funeral in Montgomery.

Since his death there have been many imitator's of Hank Williams none have ever come close to matching the impact this star had on country music. Todate over 50 years after his death he still dominates the country music scene.

Hank's hits included Hey Good Lookin. Setting the Woods on fire, Take These Chains from my Heart, I Saw The Light, My Bucket's got a hole in it, I Can't help it if i'm still in love with you, Cold cold heart, Jambalaya, Your Cheatin Heart. Kawliga.

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