Hank Williams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hank Williams, Sr.
Williams in a WSM Radio publicity photo, 1951
Background information
Birth name	Hiram King Williams
Also known as	Luke the Drifter, The Hillbilly Shakespeare.
Born	(1923-09-17)September 17, 1923 Butler County, Alabama, United States
Died	January 1, 1953(1953-01-01) (aged 29) Oak Hill, West Virginia, United States
Genres	Country, Western, gospel, blues, honky-tonk, folk
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1937–1953
Labels	Sterling, MGM
Associated acts	Drifting Cowboys, Audrey Williams

Hank Williams, Sr. (born Hiram King Williams on September 17, 1923 – died January 1, 1953) was a famous American singer, songwriter, and musician. Many people think he was one of the most important and influential musicians of the 1900s.

Hank Williams had 55 songs that reached the top 10 on the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart. Twelve of these songs became number one hits. Five of his top 10 songs were released after he passed away.

He was honored in many ways for his music. He joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961. Later, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early Life and Family

Williams's family house in Georgiana, Alabama

Hank Williams was born on September 17, 1923. His family lived in a small community called Mount Olive in Butler County, Alabama. He was the third child of Jessie Lillybelle and Elonzo Huble Williams. Hank had an older sister named Irene. He also had a brother who died very young.

Hank's father worked as an engineer for the railroads. Because of his job, the family moved often to different towns in southern Alabama. In 1930, when Hank was seven, his father became very ill. He was hospitalized for eight years and was not often home during Hank's childhood.

After his father became sick, Hank's mother, Lillie, took care of the family. She worked hard in a cannery and as a nurse at night. One time, their house even burned down, and they lost everything they owned.

Hank got his first guitar when he was about eight years old. He was a bit shy. He became friends with an older Black man named Rufus "Tee-Tot" Payne. Rufus was a street performer. Hank would follow him around town. Rufus taught Hank how to play the guitar. In return, Hank's mother would give Rufus money or meals. Hank later said that Rufus was the only person who ever taught him music.

Music Career Beginnings

Williams, Sheppard, and the Drifting Cowboys band in 1951

In July 1937, Hank's family moved to Montgomery, Alabama. They opened a boarding house. Around this time, Hank decided to change his name from Hiram to Hank. That same year, he entered a talent show at the Empire Theater. He won first prize, which was $15. He sang his first original song, "WPA Blues."

Hank never learned to read music. Instead, he wrote songs by telling stories and sharing his own experiences. After school and on weekends, Hank would sing and play his Silvertone guitar. He often performed outside the WSFA radio studio. Because he had won the talent show and performed on the street, WSFA producers sometimes invited him to sing on the radio.

Hank's radio performances became very popular. This helped him start his music career. He formed his own band called the Drifting Cowboys. He decided to leave school to focus all his time on music.

When World War II started in 1941, it was a tough time for Hank. He was not allowed to join the military because of a back injury. However, all the members of his band were drafted to serve in the war. Many new band members quit soon after joining.

During the war, Hank worked for a while at the Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company in Mobile, Alabama. He also worked briefly at Kaiser Shipyards in Portland, Oregon. In 1943, Hank met Audrey Sheppard at a show in Banks, Alabama. Audrey told Hank she wanted to help him get his radio show back. She suggested they move to Montgomery and start a band together. They got married in 1944 at a Texaco gas station.

Rise to Stardom

In 1945, Hank returned to WSFA radio in Montgomery. He started writing more of his own songs. He published his first songbook, Original Songs of Hank Williams. It included nine songs, mostly written by him. As Hank became known as a songwriter, Audrey became his manager. She would sometimes sing or play guitar if a band member was missing.

After recording a few songs with Sterling Records, Hank signed a contract with MGM Records. In 1947, he released the popular song "Move It On Over." He also joined the Louisiana Hayride radio show. The next year, he released a cover of "Lovesick Blues." This song quickly became number one on Billboard's Top Country & Western singles chart. This made him a huge star on the Grand Ole Opry.

Hank Williams did not try to create a new type of music. He just wanted to make music that people would enjoy listening to, and that he would enjoy making.

Some of Hank Williams's most famous songs include "Your Cheatin' Heart," "Hey Good Lookin'," "Jambalaya," and "Cold, Cold Heart." His songs were easy to remember, and many fans would sing along. Other singers also started performing Hank Williams's songs. Hank made many recordings, performed on radio and early television, and did live shows.

Death and Lasting Impact

Hank Williams had heart problems. He sadly passed away suddenly on January 1, 1953. He was in the back seat of a car near Oak Hill, West Virginia. He was on his way to a concert in Canton, Ohio. Hank was only 29 years old when he died.

Hank Williams's songs are still very popular today. Many musicians continue to sing them. Famous artists from the 1950s and 1960s were influenced by Hank. These include Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and many other country and rock and roll stars.

Personal Life

Hank's personal life was sometimes complicated. He married Audrey Sheppard in 1944. They had a son together, Hank Williams Jr., who also became a famous country singer. Hank and Audrey divorced in 1952.

In 1952, Hank married Billie Jean Jones Eshliman. Their marriage was very short.

After Hank's death, it was discovered that he had a daughter named Jett Williams. She was born just a few days after he passed away. Jett also grew up to become a country singer.

Interesting Facts About Hank Williams

• Hank Williams was named after Hiram I of Tyre. However, his name was misspelled as "Hiriam" on his birth certificate.
• As a child, his family called him "Harm." His friends sometimes called him "Herky" or "Poots."
• Hank Williams learned basic guitar chords from his aunt. He also listened to music played at dances and in churches.
• He is sometimes called "the Father of Country and Western Music." His songs helped shape this type of music.
• Hank Williams's last song released while he was alive was titled "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." It came out in November 1952.
• In 1954, the governor of Alabama, Gordon Persons, declared September 21 "Hank Williams Day."
• In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 74 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
• In 2016, English actor Tom Hiddleston played Hank Williams in the movie I Saw the Light.
• In 2010, Hank's 1949 hit song, "Lovesick Blues," was added to the Recording Academy Grammy Hall of Fame.
• In 1999, Williams was inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame.

Awards and Honors

Images for kids

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  Williams performing in Montgomery in 1938

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  Williams performing in 1951

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  Entrance marker of the Oakwood Annex Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama

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  Hank Williams's star at 6400 Hollywood Boulevard, on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

See also

In Spanish: Hank Williams para niños