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Hank Williams on the cusp of fame
Hank Williams, pictured here in the late 1940s, broke through as a country singer with the release of the song “Lovesick Blues” in 1949. By the time of his death, in 1953 at age 29, he had achieved iconic status, which was amplified by his reputation for hard living and heart-on-the-sleeve vulnerability.
Hank Williams
American musician
Also known as: Hiram King Williams, the Hillbilly Shakespeare
Quick Facts
- Byname of:
- Hiram Williams
- Also called:
- the Hillbilly Shakespeare
- Born:
- September 17, 1923, Mount Olive, Butler county, Alabama, U.S.
- Found dead:
- January 1, 1953, Oak Hill, West Virginia (aged 29)
- Notable Family Members:
- son Hank Williams, Jr.
- On the Web:
- BBC Sounds - Meridian - The Concert Hank Williams Never Gave (Dec. 19, 2024)
Hank Williams (born September 17, 1923, Mount Olive, Butler county, Alabama, U.S.—found dead January 1, 1953, Oak Hill, West Virginia) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who in the 1950s arguably became country music’s first superstar. An immensely talented songwriter and an impassioned vocalist, he also experienced great crossover success in the popular music market. His iconic status was amplified by his reputation for hard living and heart-on-the-sleeve vulnerability. Williams was born in Mount Olive, a rural community in southern Alabama, and lived in nearby Greenville, Garland, and Georgiana at various times during his childhood. As a boy, he ...(100 of 738 words)