Hank Williams Biography, Photos and Posters

Hank Williams

Biography

Born: September 17, 1923
City and Country of Origin: Georgiana, Alabama
Music Training:
Awards:
Top Recordings: "Move It On Over," "Lovesick Blues," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Cold, Cold Heart," "Hey Good Lookin'," "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)," "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive," "Kaw-Liga," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)," "Your Cheatin' Heart," "Take These Chains from My Heart"
Hank Williams Biography: Hank Williams was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter who has become an icon of country music and Rock 'n' Roll, and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. During his all too short career he turned out numerous hits. Much of his songbook have become country standards.

He was born in Mt. Olive, Alabama just outside Georgiana and was named after after Hiram I of Tyre, but his name was misspelled as "Hiriam" on his birth certificate. He is the son of Alonzo Huble Williams, a train conductor and WWI veteran and Jessie Lillybelle Williams. While he was young his family moved around quite frequently. His father suffered face paralysis brought on by a brain aneurysm which caused him to be hospitalized for 8 years. The family manged to squeak by aided by Alonzo's disability check.

In 1933 Hank moved in with his aunt and uncle Walter and Alice McNeil. His Aunt Alice taught him to play the guitar, and his cousin J.C. taught him to drink whiskey. By 1937 young Hiram's mother had opened a boarding house on South Perry Street in downtown Montgomery. It was at this time that young Hiram decided tochange his name to Hank, a name better suited to a career in country music.

Hank would play his guitar outside of the WSFA radio studios. One day he caught the eye of one of the producers who invited him to come inside an perform on the air. The listener reponse was so great that the producers hired him to do his own 15 minute show.

Hank's radio show ws enough to fuel his singing career and he soon put together his own group the Drifting Cowboys. The group travelled across central and southern Alabama performing at local clubs and private parties. His mother soon became the groups manager and they expanded their terrain to include parts of Georgia and the Florida panhandle. The advent of WWII spelled hard times for the young singer. All of his band members were drafted into the Army and replacements refused to play with the Williams due in part to his increasing use of alcohol.

In all Williams had 12 number 1 hits: "Lovesick Blues","I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" , "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" , "Why Don't You Love Me?" , "Moanin' the Blues" , "Cold, Cold Heart" , "Hey Good Lookin'" , "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" , "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" , "Kaw-Liga" , "Your Cheatin' Heart" , "Take These Chains From My Heart" — and also had many other top 10 hits.

Williams met Audrey Shepard in 1943 and they married the following year. She became his manager and Williams became a local celebrity. In 1946, Williams recorded two singles for Sterling Records, "Never Again" (1946) and "Honky Tonkin'" (1947), both of which were successful. He signed on with MGM Records and released "Move It On Over", a massive country hit. In 1948 he joined The Louisiana Hayride broadcasting from Shreveport, Louisiana, propelling him into living rooms all over the southeast. In 1949 "Lovesick Blues" not only becam a huge country hit, but also crossed over to mainstream audiences.

During th eearly 50s Williams recorded more hits songs like "My Son Calls Another Man Daddy," "They'll Never Take Her Love from Me," "Why Should We Try Anymore?", "Nobody's Lonesome for Me", "Long Gone Lonesome Blues," "Why Don't You Love Me?," "Moanin' the Blues" and "I Just Don't Like This Kind of Livin'." The 1951 recording of "Dear John" became a hit, but it is the B side of the record which has become a standard, "Cold, Cold Heart." That yer he also released "Crazy Heart."

Hank's drinking problems got worse and now he was also using morphine to sooth his aching back. his marriage crumbled. Audry separated and Hank moved in with his mother. Still more hit records ensued "Half as Much," "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)," "Settin' the Woods on Fire," "You Win Again" and "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." Hank moved to Nashville to finalize his divorce. While there an affair with Bobby Jett resulted in a daughter, Jett, who would be born just after his death. In 1952 he was fired by the Grand Ole Opry and told not to return until he was sober. Instead rejoined the Louisiana Hayride. On October 18, 1952, he married Billie Jean Jones Eshliman.
Died: January 1, 1953

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