Fond Farewells
Hiram (Hank) Williams
September 17,1923 - - January 1, 1953
Born in Geogriana, Alabama, Hank Williams is probably known as the greatest country and wesetern singer of all times. He wrote most of the songs he performed and recorded and sang them with simplicity, but with all his heart.
Hank's father, a logger, became ill, and then eventually ran off, forcing Hank to go to work himself to support his already-poor family. At the age of 7, Hank did anything he could to bring in money, including selling newspapers, peanuts and shining shoes.
Inspired by black singer Rufus Payne in his home town, Hank decided to pursue his love of music when he was 14-years-old. In 1937 he won an amateur singing contest in Montgomery, Alabama, and he continued to climb his way to a successful career. Considered one of the great moments in country music history, on June 11, 1949 hank debuted on radio and a program called Louisiana Hayride, which also produced dozens of big country stars.
By 1952, Hank and his first wife Audrey had called it quits. He had married her at the young age of 21 and there was added pressure for her to share the spotlight with him even though she could barely sing. It is even said that she cheated on him because of her jealously of his career (some say this gave inspiration to his hit song "You're Cheating Heart"). And at one point, they got so many complaints about her singing, that the producers would turn her microphone off so you could only hear Hank singing. During the turbulant marriage, the clean cut church-going Hank Williams developed a love for whiskey that soon started to take over his life and even lead to drugs so that he could perform on the road. This came after show dates due to his drinking.
In 1953 Hank had re-married in a public ceremony, but just months later he died in the back of a Cadillac on his way to a show in Canton, Ohio of a heart attack. It was New Year's Eve, and his driver was the only other person in the car. He thought he was sleeping, but suspicison around his death is raised after he took an illegal drug from a phony doctor on their way to Ohio. It was said that the drug Hank was injected with contained alcohol and other drugs, combined with Hank's drinking and drug habit compounded the effects and caused his death. He was just 29 years old.
Hank Williams' music continues to live on, he is an icon, and his children Hank Williams, Jr., grandson Hank Williams III and his daughter Jett Williams (who was conceived by a girlfriend between marriages and had to fight the estate to record his music) continue to keep his music alive while creating their own unique style. You can still see Hank Williams clips from television on today's country music videos on cable, and he was commemorated on a US Postage stamp shown below.
Hank Williams Links
Official Hank Williams Website www.cmgww.com/music/hank
Hank Williams' Legacy
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