Hank Williams, who died at the age of 29 in 1953, is regarded as one the greatest stars of American country music. He had 11 number ones in the years leading up to his death, which was most likely caused by a mixture of alcohol and pain killers. Many of his songs have been covered by other major country stars, and other have been covered by blues and rock legends. Hank was born in Alabama, and the Hank Williams Museum is in Montgomery.
Hank Williams was born in a log cabin, in Mount Olive, Alabama. He was christened Hiram King Williams. It is said that he was named after King Hiram I of Tyre, a contemporary of King Solomon, and a man who according to legend, was one of the three men who founded the Masons.
Hiram suffered from birth with spina bifida, which caused considerable pain. This was a cause of his later alcohol and drug abuse. In 1937 he renamed himself Hank, and managed to get noticed by WSFA radio in Montgomery. After some appearances on radio he was awarded a salary of $15 per week, for which he did two shows every week.
The salary from WSFA helped Hank start his own band, the Drifting Cowboys. Hank dropped out of school in 1939 so the band could play full time, but when America joined the war in 1941 most of the original band were drafted into the military. Many of the replacements refused to play with Hank because of his alcohol problems. He was only 18 at the time. In 1942 he was fired by WSFA for drunkenness.
Hank was able to continue his career during the war, and had his first hits for Sterling Records in 1946-7. Signing for MGM, he then had a major country hit, followed by his first number one hit, Lovesick Blues. He had a total of eleven number one hits in his career.
Hank Williams died in early 1953 in the back of a Cadillac. He seemed to have injected himself with morphine/vitamin B-12 pain killers, and to have consumed several cans of beer. A gas station in Oak Hill, WV is often regarded as his place of death, but he may have already been dead when his car arrived there.
The Hank Williams Museum, which is located in downtown Montgomery, has a large collection of memorabilia from his life, including the baby blue Cadillac which he died in. Visitors requiring accommodation in Montgomery might like to consider the Staybridge Suites Montgomery Eastchase Hotel, which is just a short drive away from the museum. Guests at this all-suite hotel have the use of excellent facilities, including a sports court, a heated pool, and a 24 hour fitness center.
Hank Williams was born in a log cabin, in Mount Olive, Alabama. He was christened Hiram King Williams. It is said that he was named after King Hiram I of Tyre, a contemporary of King Solomon, and a man who according to legend, was one of the three men who founded the Masons.
Hiram suffered from birth with spina bifida, which caused considerable pain. This was a cause of his later alcohol and drug abuse. In 1937 he renamed himself Hank, and managed to get noticed by WSFA radio in Montgomery. After some appearances on radio he was awarded a salary of $15 per week, for which he did two shows every week.
The salary from WSFA helped Hank start his own band, the Drifting Cowboys. Hank dropped out of school in 1939 so the band could play full time, but when America joined the war in 1941 most of the original band were drafted into the military. Many of the replacements refused to play with Hank because of his alcohol problems. He was only 18 at the time. In 1942 he was fired by WSFA for drunkenness.
Hank was able to continue his career during the war, and had his first hits for Sterling Records in 1946-7. Signing for MGM, he then had a major country hit, followed by his first number one hit, Lovesick Blues. He had a total of eleven number one hits in his career.
Hank Williams died in early 1953 in the back of a Cadillac. He seemed to have injected himself with morphine/vitamin B-12 pain killers, and to have consumed several cans of beer. A gas station in Oak Hill, WV is often regarded as his place of death, but he may have already been dead when his car arrived there.
The Hank Williams Museum, which is located in downtown Montgomery, has a large collection of memorabilia from his life, including the baby blue Cadillac which he died in. Visitors requiring accommodation in Montgomery might like to consider the Staybridge Suites Montgomery Eastchase Hotel, which is just a short drive away from the museum. Guests at this all-suite hotel have the use of excellent facilities, including a sports court, a heated pool, and a 24 hour fitness center.
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