Hank Williams is regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of the 20th century.
He recorded 55 singles that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, with 12 hitting No. 1.
Williams received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his lasting impact on music.
Biography
Early Life
Hiram "Hank" Williams was born on September 17, 1923, in Mount Olive, Alabama. He was the third child of Jessie Lillybelle "Lillie" and Elonzo Huble "Lon" Williams. From a young age, Hank was exposed to music through his mother, who played the organ at their local Baptist church. He received his first musical instrument, a harmonica, at age six, which sparked his lifelong passion for music. Despite being born with spina bifida, a condition that caused him chronic pain, Williams found solace in songwriting and performing.
Career
Williams began his music career in the late 1930s, changing his name from Hiram to Hank and forming his band, the Drifting Cowboys. He gained recognition for his storytelling ability and emotional depth in songwriting, recording 55 singles that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 12 that hit No. 1. His albums, such as "Hank Williams Sings" and "Moanin’ the Blues," showcased his unique blend of country, blues, and honky-tonk music, establishing him as a pioneer in the genre.
Personal Life
Hank's personal life was tumultuous, marked by struggles with alcohol and painkillers, which stemmed from his medical condition. He married Audrey Sheppard in 1944, and they had a son, Hank Williams Jr., but their marriage ended in divorce in 1952. Williams's later years were spent battling addiction, and he had a brief marriage to Billie Jean Jones shortly before his untimely death on January 1, 1953.
Legacy
Despite his struggles, Williams left an indelible mark on country music, often hailed as its first superstar. His straightforward and brutally honest songwriting set the standard for future artists. The Country Music Hall of Fame noted that he "set the agenda for contemporary country songcraft," and his influence continues to resonate in the music industry today.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
The Best of Hank Williams2020
Tracklist not collected yet.
Ultimate Collection: 72 Original Recordings2006
Tracklist not collected yet.
Prodigal Son2001
- 1.Happy Rovin' Cowboy0:51
- 2.Lovesick Blues2:45
- 3.A Mansion on the Hill2:57
- 4.You're Gonna Change2:45
- 5.A Tramp on the Street3:38
- 6.I'm a Long Gone Daddy2:30
- 7.When God Comes and Gathers All His Jewels2:34
- 8.Lost Highway3:02
- 9.I'll Have a New Body2:07
- 10.I Can't Get You Off My Mind1:43
- 11.The Prodigal Son2:27
- 12.Pan American2:45
- 13.There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight2:50
- 14.Mind Your Own Business2:27
- 15.Wedding Bells3:28
- 16.I've Just Told Mama Goodbye1:46
- 17.I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry2:37
- 18.Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine2:08
- 19.I Saw the Light2:08
- 20.Sally Goodin'0:30
40 Legendary Hits1994
- 1.Your Cheatin’ Heart2:41
- 2.Jambalaya (on the Bayou)2:52
- 3.Hey Good Lookin’2:54
- 4.Cold, Cold Heart2:43
- 5.Lovesick Blues2:42
- 6.Mind Your Own Business2:54
- 7.(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle2:25
- 8.I Saw the Light2:43
- 9.Window Shopping2:32
- 10.Take These Chains From My Heart2:35
- 11.My Son Calls Another Man Daddy2:33
- 12.My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It2:32
- 13.Honky Tonkin’2:45
- 14.Settin’ the Woods on Fire2:35
- 15.You Win Again2:36
- 16.A Mansion on the Hill2:33
- 17.You’re Gonna Change (or I’m Gonna Leave)2:56
- 18.My Heart Would Know2:24
- 19.I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive2:25
- 20.There’s a Tear in My Beer2:47
- 21.I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love With You)2:22
- 22.Half as Much2:42
- 23.Kaw‐Liga2:34
- 24.I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry2:45
- 25.Honky Tonk Blues2:10
- 26.Move It On Over2:43
- 27.Why Don’t You Love Me2:23
- 28.Baby, We’re Really in Love2:32
- 29.Long Gone Lonesome Blues2:37
- 30.Lost Highway2:41
- 31.Wedding Bells2:54
- 32.There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight2:47
- 33.Moanin’ the Blues2:23
- 34.Crazy Heart2:27
- 35.They’ll Never Take Her Love From Me2:44
- 36.I’m a Long Gone Daddy2:24
- 37.On the Banks of the Pontchartrain2:51
- 38.Dear John2:33
- 39.Let’s Turn Back the Years2:22
- 40.When God Comes and Gathers the Jewels2:48
Original Sound Track: The Last Picture Show1971
- 1.Why Don’t You Love Me2:25
- 2.Cold, Cold Heart2:42
- 3.Hey, Good Lookin’2:35
- 4.Kaw‐Liga2:33
- 5.Lovesick Blues2:42
- 6.Half As Much2:39
- 7.My Son Calls Another Man Daddy2:30
- 8.I Can’t Help It (I’m Still In Love With You)2:20
- 9.Faded Love2:49
- 10.Jambalaya (On The Bayou)2:47
24 Of Hank Williams’ Greatest Hits1970
- 1.Your Cheatin’ Heart2:38
- 2.Move It On Over2:42
- 3.I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry2:45
- 4.Honky Tonk Blues2:07
- 5.My Heart Would Know2:24
- 6.Kaw‐Liga2:33
- 7.Cold, Cold Heart2:42
- 8.Lovesick Blues2:40
- 9.Ramblin’ Man3:00
- 10.Honky Tonkin’2:40
- 11.There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight2:42
- 12.Mind Your Own Business2:52
- 13.Jambalaya (on the Bayou)2:47
- 14.Wedding Bells2:52
- 15.Hey, Good Lookin’2:35
- 16.Window Shopping2:29
- 17.Settin’ the Woods on Fire2:33
- 18.I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love With You)2:20
- 19.Half as Much2:39
- 20.Why Don’t You Love Me2:25
- 21.You Win Again2:33
- 22.May You Never Be Alone2:38
- 23.Baby, We’re Really in Love2:32
- 24.Take These Chains From My Heart2:37
More Hank Williams & Strings1966
Tracklist not collected yet.
Again1966
- 1.My Sweet Love Ain't Around2:40
- 2.I'll Be A Bachelor 'Til I Die2:32
- 3.Window Shopping2:31
- 4.My Bucket's Got A Hole In It2:29
- 5.I Can't Help It2:19
- 6.Howlin' At The Moon2:39
- 7.My Son Calls Another Man Daddy2:34
- 8.Moanin' The Blues2:32
- 9.Kaw-Liga2:33
- 10.Baby We're Really In Love2:30
- 11.Why Should We Try Anymore2:38
- 12.I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive2:23
Father & Son1965
- 1.I Won't Be Home No More2:43
- 2.Lovesick Blues2:42
- 3.May You Never Be Alone2:38
- 4.Move It On Over2:42
- 5.Lost Highway2:39
- 6.Crazy Heart2:24
- 7.Wedding Bells2:52
- 8.Honky Tonk Blues2:08
- 9.(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle2:23
- 10.Why Don't You Love Me2:23
- 11.Mind Your Own Business2:52
- 12.I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Livin'2:45
Hank Williams Sings Kaw-Liga and Other Humorous Songs1965
- 1.Howlin' at the Moon2:45
- 2.Just Waitin'2:42
- 3.Move It on Over2:46
- 4.Everything's Okay2:52
- 5.Honky Tonk Blues2:13
- 6.Fly Trouble2:45
- 7.Mind Your Own Business2:57
- 8.I've Been Down That Road Before2:58
- 9.I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive2:29
- 10.Please Make Up Your Mind2:52
- 11.Kaw-Liga2:37
- 12.Nobody's Lonesome for Me2:33
Lost Highway And Other Folk Ballads1964
- 1.Lost Highway2:38
- 2.My Bucket's Got a Hole in It2:29
- 3.Be Careful of Stones That You Throw2:56
- 4.Six More Miles (To the Graveyard)2:45
- 5.Jambalaya (On the Bayou)2:47
- 6.Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine3:31
- 7.Ramblin' Man3:00
- 8.Kaw-Liga2:33
- 9.I've Just Told Mama Goodbye2:53
- 10.Pictures From Life's Other Side2:50
- 11.Long Gone Lonesome Blues2:35
- 12.Cool Water3:50
Greatest Hits: 14 of Hank’s All‐Time Best1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Spirit of Hank Williams1961
- 1.Window Shopping2:29
- 2.Wearin' Out Your Walkin' Shoes1:46
- 3.A Teardrop on a Rose2:30
- 4.Lost on the River2:31
- 5.Jesus Died for Me2:30
- 6.A Home in Heaven2:25
- 7.Fool About You1:43
- 8.The Pale Horse and His Rider2:49
- 9.If You'll Be a Baby (To Me)1:38
- 10.Mother Is Gone2:32
- 11.Dear Brother2:43
- 12.When You're Tired of Breaking Other Hearts2:24
The Lonesome Sound of Hank Williams1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
Wait for the Light to Shine1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Unforgettable Hank Williams1959
Tracklist not collected yet.
Sing Me a Blue Song1957
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Immortal Hank Williams1956
Tracklist not collected yet.
Ramblin’ Man1955
Tracklist not collected yet.
Hank Williams as “Luke the Drifter”1955
Tracklist not collected yet.
Honky Tonkin’1954
Tracklist not collected yet.
Beyond the Sunset1953
Tracklist not collected yet.
Memorial Album1953
Tracklist not collected yet.
Moanin’ the Blues1952
Tracklist not collected yet.
Hank Williams Sings1949
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Sterling Records
- Record label
- MGM Records
Achievements
- Award
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Award
- Americana Music Association President's Award
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Award
- Pulitzer Prize Special Citations and Awards
Groups
- Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboyscurrent
- Three Hankscurrent
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: H. Viljamss, Hank And Audrey, Hank Williams And The Country Boys, Hank Williams Sr, Hank Williams Sr., Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys
Hiram "Hank" Williams was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. An early pioneer of country music, he is regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of the 20th century. Williams recorded 55 singles that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, 5 of which were released posthumously, and 12 of which reached No.1.
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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