Hank Williams

**Hiram "Hank" Williams** (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, Williams recorded 35 singles (five released posthumously) that reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 that ranked number one (three posthumously).

Years of back pain, alcoholism and prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health. In 1952 he divorced Sheppard and was dismissed by the Grand Ole Opry because of his unreliability and alcohol abuse. On New Year's Day 1953, he died suddenly while traveling to a concert in Canton, Ohio, at the age of 29. Despite his brief life, Williams is one of the most celebrated and influential popular musicians of the 20th century, especially in country music.

Many artists covered songs Williams wrote and recorded. He influenced Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, George Jones, Charley Pride and The Rolling Stones, among others. Williams was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1961), the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1970), and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987). The Pulitzer Prize jury in 2010 awarded him a posthumous special citation "for his craftsmanship as a songwriter who expressed universal feelings with poignant simplicity and played a pivotal role in transforming country music into a major musical and cultural force in American life."

## Links to Kershaw

In an article on the Independent, published on 1st January 2003, 50 years after the death of Hank Williams, Kershaw wrote that Hank Williams was *one of America's greatest songwriters, a man who had changed the course of country music forever, a performer who made rock'n'roll possible.* [1]

Despite Williams dying at the age of 29 in 1953, Kershaw played much of his music on his shows, as well as some from his descendants, especially Hank Williams' grand-daughter, Holly Williams, and his grandson, Hank Williams III who both followed their father (Hank Williams Jr.) and grandfather (Hank Williams) into the music industry.

## Shows Played

   1985
* 28 May 1985 (John Peel): Lost Highway
* 17 August 1985: Pan American (LP - Rare Radio Programmes - 1949 / The Hank Williams Health & Happiness Shows) Jambalaya
* 05 December 1985: Your Cheating Heart

1986
* 03 April 1986: Moaning The Blues
* 03 April 1986: Honky Tonkin'
* 12 April 1986 (Saturday Live): Honky Tonkin (LP - Honky Tonkin') MGM
* 28 August 1986: Honky Tonk Blues
* 22 October 1986 (John Peel): I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive

1988
* 23 June 1988: They'll Never Take Her Love From Me
* 13 October 1988: Mansion On The Hill

1991
* 24 February 1991: Angel Of Death
* 24 February 1991: Why Should We Try Anymore
* 03 March 1991: Mansion On The Hill
* 10 March 1991: I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive
* 01 September 1991: Faded Love And Winter Roses
* 08 September 1991: I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)
* 17 November 1991: We're Getting Closer To The Grave Each Day

1992
* 01 March 1992: A Mansion On The Hill
* 14 November 1992: Happy Rovin' Cowboy (LP - Rare Radio Programmes - 1949 / The Hank Williams Health & Happiness Shows) Jambalaya
* 14 November 1992: Mind Your Own Business (LP - Rare Radio Programmes - 1949 / The Hank Williams Health & Happiness Shows) Jambalaya

1993
* 06 November 1993: I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Livin' (LP - Live At The Grand Ole Opry) MGM

1994
* 17 September 1994: Why Should We Try Anymore? (CD - 40 Greatest Hits) Polydor

1996
* 01 September 1996: Honky Tonkin'

1997
* January 1997: (I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle (CD - Low Down Blues) Mercury Nashville

1998
* 12 November 1998: Move It On Over (CD - The Complete Hank Williams Boxed Set) Mercury
* 19 November 1998: Cold Cold Heart (CD - Complete Hank Williams (Boxed Set)) Mercury

1999
* 07 January 1999: Honky Tonk Blues (10xCD - The Complete Hank Williams) Mercury
* 11 February 1999: Cold Cold Heart (10xCD - The Complete Hank Williams) Mercury
* 06 May 1999: I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow (CD - 40 Greatest Hits) Polydor
* 02 December 1999: I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You) (CD - Live At the Grand Ole Opry) Mercury
* 09 December 1999: Jambalaya (CD - Live at the Grand Ole Opry) Mercury
* 16 December 1999: Honky Tonk Blues (CD - Live At the Grand Ole Opry) Mercury

2000
* 13 January 2000: Cold Cold Heart (CD - Live At the Grand Ole Opry) Mercury
* 03 February 2000: Wedding Bells (CD - Live At the Grand Ole Opry) Mercury
* 09 March 2000: Nobody's Lonesome For Me (CD - Live at the Grand Ole Opry) Mercury

2002
* 27 December 2002: They'll Never Ever Take Her Love From Me

2003
* 03 January 2003: Why Should We Try Anymore

2004
* 15 February 2004: I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You) (2xCD - Live At The Grand Ole Opry) Mercury

2005
* 13 February 2005: Cold Cold Heart (CD - Lost Highway And Other Live Favourites) Mercury
* 06 March 2005: I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Livin' (CD - Lost Highway, And Other Live Favourites) Mercury
* 20 March 2005: Dear John
* 08 May 2005: Cold Cold Heart (CD - Lost Highway & Other Live Favourites) Mercury Promo

2007
* 14 January 2007: You Win Again (LP - The Great Hits Of Hank Williams Senior) Contour

2023
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 21: I Can't Help It (album - The Lost Concerts) Time Life Music
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 21: Cold, Cold Heart (album - The Lost Concerts) Time Life Music

## External Links

* Wikipedia
* Discogs
* Official Website