History

Birthday of a Legend – Hank Williams

by Jessica Blankenship
Hank Williams, Sr.
Born on this date in 1923 in Mt. Olive, Alabama, was the lonesome drifter, the one with soul, sorrow, and the one that many consider a legend.  Hank Williams, Sr. was born on September 17, 1923.  He would be considered to be one of the earliest country music stars back in the day.  To this day, his music lives on in the hearts of country music fans.

Hank Williams son, Hank Williams, Jr., otherwise known as Bocephus, carried on the family tradition.  His son, Hank Williams, III, or simply known as III or 3, shares a striking resemblance in both looks and vocals of his late grandfather.

Looking at the many works of Hank Williams, he was a poet, a songwriter, a writer of many simple words that yet, put together, brings out a new meaning of things in life.

Who would have thought that a young man would write songs like “I Saw the Light,” as well as “Hey, Good Lookin,” and “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive.”

So much has been said and written about the legend.  He was let go from the Grand Ole Opry, but yet for years they would talk about him during tours and use his image.  Sadly, they updated their tours and Hank Williams is no longer mentioned in their videos or from the tour guides.  It is as if he never existed.

Hank Williams is, however, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.  The museum featured the entire Williams Family Legacy in a special exhibit a few years ago that was personally beyond amazing with all of the details of the entire Williams family.

Hank Williams has got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as well as membership into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Music Hall of Fame, Native American Music Hall of Fame, Recording Academy Grammy Hall of Fame (Lovesick Blues), and a Pulitzer Prize Board Citation.

Before all of the lights, smoke, and theatrics of concerts these days there was Hank Williams who could capture an audience by his vocals.  Sadly we lost the legend at the young age of 29 years old in 1953.  Imagine how many more songs would have been written without this huge loss in music.

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