Hank Williams

Hank Williams, Sr.
Hank Williams, Sr.
	Williams in a WSM Radio publicity photo, 1951
Background information
Birth name	Hiram King Williams
Also known as	Luke the Drifter, The Hillbilly Shakespeare.
Born	September 17, 1923; Butler County, Alabama, United States
Died	January 1, 1953 (aged 29); Oak Hill, West Virginia, United States
Genres	Country, Western, gospel, blues, honky-tonk, folk
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1937–1953
Labels	Sterling, MGM
Associated acts	Drifting Cowboys, Audrey Williams
Website	www.hankwilliams.com ; Signature of Hank Williams

Hank Williams, Sr. (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953), born Hiram King Williams, was an American singer-songwriter and musicians. Williams is known as "the Father of Country and Western Music", because his songs were some of the first to come from that genre. As with many musical pioneers, Williams did not set out to create a new kind of music. He simply wanted to make music that his listeners would enjoy, that he would also enjoy making for them.

Some of Williams's songs are "Your Cheatin' Heart", "Hey Good Lookin'", "Jambalaya", and "Cold, Cold Heart". The songs were easy to remember, and many fans sang along when they heard them. Other singers began to include Hank Williams songs in their repertoires. Williams made recordings, performed on radio and early television, and also made live appearances.

Early life

Williams's family house in Georgiana, Alabama

Williams's parents, Elonzo Huble "Lon" Williams and Jessie Lillybelle "Lillie" Skipper married on November 12, 1916. Hank Williams was of English-American ancestry.^[1] Elonzo Williams worked as an engineer for the railroads of the W.T. Smith lumber company. He was drafted during World War I, serving from July 1918 until June 1919.^[2] He was severely injured after falling from a truck, breaking his collarbone and sustaining a severe hit to the head. After his return, the family's first child, Irene, was born on August 8, 1922. Another son of theirs died shortly after birth. Their third child, Hiram, was born on September 17, 1923, in Mount Olive.^[3] Since Elonzo Williams was a Mason, and his wife was a member of Order of the Eastern Star the child was named after Hiram I of Tyre (one of the three founders of the Masons, according to Masonic legend), but his name was misspelled as "Hiriam" on his birth certificate.^[4] As a child, he was nicknamed "Harm" by his family and "Herky" or "Poots" by his friends.^[5]

Personal life

Williams was one of the first superstars to have problems with alcohol and drugs. Well-meaning fans and friends would buy Williams drinks, or invite him to parties, and he would lose control. He began to miss shows, and to give bad performances because of the effects of drugs and alcohol. He lost many of his best engagements, and his reputation suffered.

Death

Williams died at age 29 on January 1, 1953, after a binge of alcohol drinking. He left behind a wife and son, Hank Williams Jr., who also grew up to become a country musician. Williams' songs are still popular, and sung by many musicians. Hank Jr. performed his father's music for many years, but later found success with songs of his own.

Discography

Singles

"Lost Highway"

Studio albums

Hank Williams Sings (1951)
Moanin' the Blues (1952)

Hank Williams Media

Williams performing in Montgomery in 1938
Williams, Sheppard, and the Drifting Cowboys band in 1951
Hank Williams in 1952
Williams and his first wife Audrey Sheppard in a publicity photo for MGM Records, c. 1952
Entrance marker of the Oakwood Annex Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama
Hank Williams' star at 6400 Hollywood Boulevard, on the Hollywood Walk of Fame