Remembering Hank Williams on what would have been his 100th birthday
Even if you are not a heavy-duty Country Western music follower, you have probably heard of the late Hank Williams. As one of the Country Western music pioneers, Williams influenced countless artists in many genres.
Known by some as the “Hillbilly Shakespeare” for his poetic, evocative lyrics, it was 100 years ago today Hank Williams was born in Butler County, Ala. As a singer-songwriter, some of Williams’ best-known songs included ““Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Honky Tonkin’,” “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “Lovesick Blues,” and “Jambalaya (On The Bayou),”
Williams has been described as “A troubled figure that embodied his deeply emotional songs – he personified his heartrending music until his life was cut tragically short at the age of 29 at the height of his fame – he paved the way for all that would follow in his footsteps.”
An indication of William’s influence is his inclusion in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In recognition of his short but influential life, Williams was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation in 2010 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.”
Williams, who led a hard life, died when he was 29, but man, what a legacy he left for us to enjoy even 70 years after his passing.
