by B.V. J.

Created on: December 01, 2007   Last Updated: January 31, 2010

Born Hiriam Hank Williams on Sept.17,1923 in Georgina, Ala., Hank spent most of his young life in a hospital suffering from spina bifida. Unable to do sports Hank turned to music as an alternative. His early influence is said to have been from a street musician named "toe-tot" (Rufus Payne). This influence is what some believe gave Hank his bluesy sound.

His first band was called the Drifting Cowboys,and with this band he would tour saloons and any show around Montgomery Alabama that would let them play. In 1943 Hank met Audrey Mae Sheppard, they were married the next year in December. Audrey tried to play with Hank on stage but lacked the talent so she became his manager.

Hank's reputation as a performer had reached Nashville, but his reputation of drunkenness and unreliability made Nashville uneasy to take a chance with him at first. In 1946 Audrey took Hank to Nashville to meet with Fred Rose a music publisher. Along with Roy Acuff they were only interested in Hank as a songwriter(this meeting was played out on the big screen by Warren Beaty in a movie based on Hank)at first.

Then in 1947 Hank got his break with MGM with the help of Rose.Hi song "Move it on Over"was his first Billboard Hit.Next came "Honky Tonking",and the rest is a musical legend. In 1949 with the release of "Lovesick Blues", Hank Williams was asked to join the grand Ole Opry. The crown jewel of the country music industry. Hank was on top of the music world,but in 1952 bothered by chronic back pain masked by alcohol and presumed morphine use(never truly proven)he was fired by the Opry. His marriage to Audrey which survived earlier problems ended in divorce.

Then while journeying to a show sometime after midnight on Jan.1,1953 Hank passed away. Although he only lived just over 29 years Hank Williams left a legacy that is unmatched. His influence is still felt today by some of the brightest acts in Nashville. Including Alan Jackson and his son Hank Jr. and his grandson Hank III.

The word legend is thrown around allot these days but a true legend is measured by the people they impact, this is why when you call "Hiriam Hank Williams" a legend no ther word fits him better.

Re-enstate Hank Williams in the Opry. If anyone deserves inclusion it's him.

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