Portrait of Hank Williams

Hank Williams

Origin: Mount Olive, Alabama, USA Years: September 17, 1923 - January 1, 1953

Hank Williams, born Hiram King Williams, was one of the most influential American singer-songwriters and musicians of the 20th century. A pioneer of honky tonk music, Williams recorded 55 singles that reached the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 12 number-one hits. His songs combined elements of country, blues, and gospel to create a distinctive style that bridged traditional folk and modern country music. Despite a career cut short by his death at age 29, Williams' songwriting and vocal delivery influenced countless artists across multiple genres and continues to define modern country music.

CountryHonky TonkWestern SwingBlues CountryFolkGospelRockabilly

Discography Overview

During his career from 1937 to 1953, Williams released 128 singles across various labels, with 55 charting on Billboard's Country & Western Best Sellers list. His catalog includes 11 number-one country hits, including 'Lovesick Blues,' 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry,' and 'Your Cheatin' Heart,' the latter becoming one of the most recorded songs in music history with over 500 versions. His posthumous compilation 'The Complete Hank Williams' (1998) earned Grammy Hall of Fame recognition, and his overall catalog has sold over 75 million records worldwide.

Key Albums

  • Hank Williams Sings (1951)
  • Moanin' the Blues (1952)
  • Honky Tonkin' (1952)
  • Ramblin' Man (1953)
  • I Saw the Light (1953)
  • The Complete Hank Williams (1998)

Key Songs

  • Your Cheatin' Heart
  • I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
  • Hey Good Lookin'
  • Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
  • Cold, Cold Heart
  • I Saw the Light
  • Lost Highway
  • Move It on Over
  • Lovesick Blues
  • Honky Tonk Blues
  • Kaw-Liga
  • Take These Chains from My Heart

Career Timeline

  1. 1937 Began performing as 'The Singing Kid' on local radio in Alabama at age 14
  2. 1938 Formed the Drifting Cowboys band; made first radio appearances in Montgomery
  3. 1946 Signed with Sterling Records; released first professional recording 'Never Again (Will I Knock on Your Door)'
  4. 1947 Signed with MGM Records; early recordings including 'Move It on Over'
  5. 1949 Joined the Grand Ole Opry; 'Lovesick Blues' became breakout hit
  6. 1949-1950 Released major hits including 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry,' 'Long Gone Lonesome Blues,' and 'Why Don't You Love Me'
  7. 1951 Released 'Cold, Cold Heart' and 'Hey Good Lookin''; health problems began limiting performances
  8. 1952 Grand Ole Opry terminated his contract due to unreliability from alcoholism and drug dependency
  9. 1952 Divorced wife Audrey; recorded final sessions including 'Your Cheatin' Heart'
  10. 1953 Died of heart failure in the backseat of his Cadillac en route to a New Year's Day concert in Canton, Ohio
  11. 1961 Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame posthumously
  12. 1987 Awarded Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously
  13. 1999 National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award
  14. 2010 Pulitzer Prize Board awarded him a special citation for his songwriting

Influence Graph

How Hank Williams sits in the influence chain

Influenced by

  • Roy Acuff
  • Ernest Tubb
  • Jimmie Rodgers
  • The Carter Family
  • The Delmore Brothers

Influenced

  • Johnny Cash
  • George Jones
  • Merle Haggard
  • Willie Nelson
  • Waylon Jennings
  • Bob Dylan
  • Elvis Presley
  • Tony Bennett

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