Hank Williams

Hailing from Montgomery, Alabama, Hiram King Williams undeniably changed the sound of country and pop music in the 20th Century. Let's throw in rock & roll while we're at it--he changed that too. In his brief 29 years on earth, Hank effortlessly tossed off hit records that others would vainly spend entire lifetimes to get and still never get but ol' Hank would get it and get it three-fold every time he cracked his skinny knuckles.

Equally inspired by comic books (his preferred reading selection), the Bible, booze, pills and those fancy country ladies, Hank possessed a Geiger counter-like ability to pen hit after hit drunk or sober but mostly drunk. Even his non-hits are some of the greatest songs ever written. The guy knew how to tell a simple no-bullshit story that would kick you right in the gut while entertaining the hell out of you at the same time.

Piss-poor decisions regarding the fairer sex along with bad business moves provided sufficient grist for hundreds of country singers let alone one ignant singing hillbilly. On the looser songs like Setting the Woods On Fire, Hank swung it wild and inebriated as he celebrated the debauchery that got him into this show biz mess in the first place. In his darker moments he stared down and slammed the door on Death like it was the Tuesday afternoon Avon Lady. Hank was a hillbilly lightning rod savant from the Planet Genius who could out-write, out-record, and out-perform any other country music johnny-come loser-lately from here to the goddamned Kate Smith Show. Still the common denominator for hipsters and squares alike, Hank's songwriting cut to the truth like no one else could or would. There's barely a stinker in the 300-plus song catalog, so if you haven't done so already, try to listen to everything Hank ever recorded. Musically speaking, there's Hank Williams and then there's everything else.

Today would have been Hank's 85th birthday. Here's a recording of a show from rural Pennsylvania recorded shortly before he got booted from the Opry.

Sunset Park, Pennsylvania July 13, 1952 (mp3)

Comments

[schlep]

Wow, thanks for that inspired eulogy and Happy Birthday!

[listener mark]

I propose a national holiday, a prayer, and a drink. (righteous post Dave.)

[Listener Greg G.]

Great post, Dave. I echo Mark's sentiments: let's have a holiday. Shit, make it a whole week.

[Adam Bruneau]

It's true, Hank Williams was a genius. Every song he wrote is brilliant on some level and the way those recordings sound shake my very soul.

[scruss]

Yeah, but he was no Charlie Poole ...

[Chester]

Great blog Dave. Spot on.

[TheePurpleChicken]

Yeah, and Charlie Poole was no Hank Williams either (thankfully). Obviously they were both brilliant, but as 'FMU has been proving for the last 50 years, there's more than enough room in this world for only two brilliant musicians. Last but by no means least, thank you Dave! And happy 50th to FMU!

[Dan Electricbanjoman]

Great site, Yeah I remember every Saturday morning my Dad would play his Hank Williams albums,Every Saturday evening it was the Porter wagoner TV show, Hank & Porter Wagoner Now that`s Country music Hoss!!
Dan

[rick rozon]

wow...this is the shit!.....most excellant bio-blurb description that you wrote too!thanks for posting this...it shakes ya to the very core of whatever i have let in there

[jim minner]

i cried after each song, listened to every song he recorded since i was 14 yrs old, i was born in 35 and glad i was , so to appreciate his music.

[Beth Petty]

Please add the Museum website...
www.TheHankWilliamsMuseum.com

Thank you,
Beth Petty
Manager
Hank Williams Museum
118 Commerce Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-262-3600