HANK WILLIAMS Jr (Bocephus)

Born in Shreveport Louisiana in 1949 as Randall Hank Williams

Probably the hardest thing in the world is to be the sibling of someone has famous has Hank Williams.  Born in Shreveport Louisiana in 1949 as Randall Hank Williams his nickname (bestowed on him by his father.) was Bocephus. 

A legend before he started and with the royalties from his father's records he already had it made some would say.  He was assured of the goodwill of country fans he still held his father in almost god like awe.

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Grand Ole Opry at 8

The Drifting Cowboys

However for someone has creative as Hank Jr this was a constant trial.  By the time he was 8 he had already sung on the Grand Ole Opry by 16 he had a number one hit and was touring the country playing one nighters.  Like his Pa the driving force behind his early success was his mother Audrey, his first hit was suitable entitled 'Standing in the Shadows (of a very famous man)

Accompanied by some of his fathers band the Drifting Cowboys, Hank Jr had hit after hit with songs such as 'It's all over but the cryin', 'All for the love of sunshine', 'Cajun baby', 'eleven roses,' 'Rainin' in my heart', Most of these songs were self penned.

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Pills and Booze

moved out of Nashville in the 1970's

By his early 20's Hank Jr fell prey to the same affliction has his father a love for pills and booze, he attempted suicide finally he found peace with himself and moved out of Nashville in the 1970's. 

The move did him good he started experimenting with Southern Rock. unfortunately he almost lost his life when mountain climbing he got caught in a snow slide and he fell 500 feet down the mountain landed in deep snow hit his face on a boulder and split it in two the cut ran from his forehead down to his chin. By some miracle his guide found him and a ranger who arranged an helicopter and plane rescue, however it was 5 hours lying in the snow with horrific blood loss and parts of his brain exposed before he was placed on an operating table. After a 7 hour op he was stabalized, he spent months recuperating.

After the accident the hits kept coming he even took up acting and appeared in A Time To Sing with Ed Begley.

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