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Hank Williams. That name says it all doesn't it folks. Whether it's a lonesome ballad or a drinking song. Hank Williams was the greatest country singer this world has ever known. His wobbly baritone voice sang hits such as " Your Cheatin Heart" and " I Saw the Light". Williams was just sixteen when he decided to quit school to persue his musical career. When he was about twenty-five he had arrived. Playing the Grand Ol Opry. In four years he put more hits on the radio than any one since then.

Sure he had a drinking problem, an addiction to pain pills, and probably various other things. Without those things I believe that this world would have been devoid of songs like " I'm so Lonesome I could Cry" or "Jambalaya". Born in a small south Alabama town, Williams would become known for his music, his going on stage drunk, and being fired from the Opry. Williams was a husband and father. His wife wound up divorcing him and getting custody of their son, Hank Jr. Hank Williams would die soon after of an overdose in the back seat of his Cadillac on his way to a show in Ohio, at the age of twenty-nine.

Since his time country music has changed from the moaning and lonesome call of the whip-r-will, to an unabashed water downed version of rock and roll. Very few artist since his time have hit on what he had. Very few even pay homage to him, with the exceptions of David Allen Coe who's song " The Ride" will give you chills, and Alan Jackson, who's " Midnight In Montgomery" is a reminder to those of us who live in Alabama that a great man rest here. I suggest any country music fan who comes to Alabama or if you live in the state, go pay your respects to this oh so lonesome man, who was and is the Father of country music.

Learn more about this author, Robert Hill.
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