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Hank Williams Jr.

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Hank Williams, Jr., in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, on August 4, 2006.

Hank Williams, Jr. (born May 26, 1949) is an American country and southern rock artist, son of country music pioneer Hank Williams and father of Hank III and Holly Williams.

Early life and career

Born Randall Hank Williams in Shreveport, Louisiana, and known by the nickname Bocephus (a name given to him by his father because he thought his son as a baby resembled a TV ventriloquist dummy named Bocephus), he was raised by his mother Audrey after his father's death in 1953. He began performing when eight years old, and in 1963 made his recording debut with "Lone Gone Lonesome Blues", a staple of his father's career.

Williams' early career was guided, some say outright dominated, by his mother Audrey Williams, who many claim was the driving force that led his father to musical superstardom during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Audrey, in many ways, wished for young Hank to be nothing more than a "Hank Williams, Sr. impersonator", sometimes going as far as to have clothes designed for him that were identical to his father's stage clothes and vocal stylings very similar to those of his father.

A change in musical direction

Although Williams' recordings earned him numerous country hits throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, he became disillusioned with his role as a 'Hank Williams clone' and severed ties with his mother in order to pursue his own musical direction and tastes. After recording the soundtrack to Your Cheatin' Heart, a biography of his father, Williams, Jr. hit the charts with one of his own compositions, "Standing in the Shadows". The song signalled a move to rock and roll and other influences as he stepped from the shadow of his father.

Also during this time, Williams had his first two No. 1 songs: "All For the Love of Sunshine" (1970, featured on the soundtrack to Kelly's Heroes) and "Eleven Roses" (1972).

By the mid-1970s, Williams had finally found the musical direction that would, eventually, make him a superstar. Williams' unique blend of traditional country with southern rock and blues earned him a devoted following, although some mainstream country radio stations wouldn't touch his new songs in this blatantly untraditional sound.

While recording a series of hit songs, Williams began abusing drugs, including alcohol and eventually tried to commit suicide in 1974. Moving to Alabama, Williams began playing music with Southern rock musicians Toy Caldwell, Marshall Tucker Band and Charlie Daniels, and others.

Injury and recovery

On August 8, 1975, Williams was severely injured in a mountain-climbing accident in Montana. The accident shattered every bone within his face and actually exposed his brain to open air. It would eventually take nine major surgeries to put his face back together again.

His recovery took two years. In order to hide the numerous scars, Williams adopted the look that would become his trademark, a thick, full beard, cowboy hat, and dark sunglasses. Upon his re-entry into the recording studio, Williams worked with Waylon Jennings on the album entitled The New South. But as far as singles were concerned, Williams didn't reach the charts again until the late 1970s, with Bobby Fuller's "I Fought the Law", "Family Tradition" and "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound".

The singles "Family Tradition" and "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound" sent Williams' career into orbit. During the 1980s alone, he scored no less than 35 top ten and number one singles on the country music charts and an impressive string of gold, platinum, and multi-platinum selling albums. Despite selling millions of albums, setting concert attendance records, and being one of Country Music's biggest stars, Williams received very little recognition by the country music establishment. Williams' untraditional approach, style, behavior, sound, and Rock and Roll attitude was seen as not being 'country' enough for hardcore country loyalists within the Nashville music scene.

In the mid-1980s, Williams took advantage of the emerging popularity of music videos and shot a video to showcase the single, "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight". The song became one of Williams' true signature songs, due in great part to the video that featured, quite literally, many of Williams' closest friends, many of whom were among the most recognizable names in music such as George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and George Thorogood. The video for "All My Rowdy Friends" became the first video to be named Video Of The Year by the Country Music Association in 1985. In 1989, ABC asked Williams to change his lyrics of "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" to "All My Rowdy Friends Are Here On Monday Night", leading to one of television's most famous quotes: "Are You Ready For Some Football?"

Well known Ultimate Fighting Champion Matt Hughes walks out into the octagon to the tune of 'A Country Boy Can Survive.'This song was modified to 'America Will Survive' following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Also, Professional Wrestler James Gibson used 'A Country Boy Can Survive' as his theme tune during his 2005 run in the Ring Of Honor.

Acceptance by country music establishment

Williams' career began to hit its peak after his first taste of recognition by the country music establishment. His popularity had risen to such levels, he could no longer be overlooked for major industry awards. In 1987 and 1988, Williams was named Entertainer Of The Year by the Country Music Association. In 1987, 1988, and 1989, he won the same award from the Academy of Country Music. During the 1980s, Williams became a country music superstar known for catchy anthems and hard-edged rock-influenced country. By the end of the decade, however, the hits had begun to dry up. A new generation of country singers began to emerge that brought with them songs and vocal stylings with a more traditional sound. These singers, which would include Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, and Garth Brooks, became known as 'Neo-Traditionalists'. Williams was now seen as somewhat out of step with this new traditionalist movement.

His last major success was "There's a Tear in My Beer", a duet with his father created using electronic dubbing techniques. The song itself was written by his father, presumably, sometime between 1950 and 1953 and was recorded with Hank Williams playing just his guitar. The music video for the song combined existing television footage of Hank Williams performing and the dubbing techniques transferred the image of Hank Jr. onto the screen, so it appeared as if he were actually playing with his father. The video was an overwhelming success, both critically and commercially. It was named Video Of The Year by both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country music. Hank Williams, Jr. would go on to win a Grammy award in 1990 for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.

Despite his slumping album sales, Hank Williams Jr. continued to be a popular concert draw during the early 1990s and continued to record, with several of his recordings during this time still managing to achieve gold status, selling 500,000 copies.

He is probably best known today as the performer of the theme song for Monday Night Football, based on "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight". The opening theme became a classic, as much a part of the show as the football itself. In 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994, Williams' opening themes for Monday Night Football would earn him four Emmy awards.

In 2004, Williams, Jr appeared on CMT Outlaws.

He has made a cameo appearance along with Larry the Cable Guy, Kid Rock, and Charlie Daniels in Gretchen Wilson's music video for the song "All Jacked Up", whose album has been released. He also appeared in Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman" video as well.

Williams, Jr. donated $125,000 to hurricane relief efforts in Biloxi, Mississippi on October 14, 2005.

On December 26, 2005 Hank Williams, Jr opened for Monday Night Football on ABC for the last time. In 2006, the series will be on Disney corporate sibling ESPN.

On January 7, 2006, Hank Williams, Jr opened up for two games on ABC for the NFL Playoffs.

Hank Williams Jr. visited with Randal McCloy Jr., the only survivor of the Sago Mine accident, on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 in Morgantown, West Virginia. Williams traveled to the hospital after learning that McCloy was a fan of his music. "It just hit me like a ton of bricks because I had a big mountain fall in the '70s, and they said I wouldn't live," Williams told Pittsburgh TV station KDKA. "It really, really affected me, and I said, 'I've just got to go there and meet the family."

The Tennessee Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling stating that Hank Williams' heirs -- son Hank Williams Jr. and daughter Jett Williams -- have the sole rights to sell his old recordings made for a Nashville radio station in the early '50s. The court rejected claims made by Polygram Records and Legacy Entertainment in releasing recordings Williams made for the Mother's Best Flour Show, a program that originally aired on WSM-AM. The recordings, which Legacy Entertainment acquired in 1997, include live versions of Williams' hits and his cover version of other songs. Polygram contended that Williams' contract with MGM Records, which Polygram now owns, gave them rights to release the radio recordings.

Hank Williams, Jr. opened for Super Bowl XL which was aired February 5, 2006 on ABC. Williams Jr was in the stands as a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

On April 10, 2006 CMT honored country music icon Hank Williams Jr. with the Johnny Cash Visionary Award, presenting it to him at the 2006 CMT Music Awards. Williams joins an elite circle of gifted performers to have received this prestigious mark of distinction, including Loretta Lynn (2005), Reba McEntire (2004), Johnny Cash (2003).

In August of 2006 an on-line fan website started a petition to get Williams, Jr into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

For MNF's 2006 debut on ESPN, Williams Jr. re-recorded the MNF opening theme with an all-star jam band that included Little Richard, ?uestlove, Joe Perry, Clarence Clemons, Rick Nielsen, Bootsy Collins, Charlie Daniels, Steven Van Zandt and others.

When not performing, Williams lives at his compound outside of Missoula, where he spends his time composing new material, hunting and fishing. He also resides in the small town of Paris, Tennessee.

Arrest

In April 2006, Williams Jr. was arrested in connection with an alleged assault on a waitress in a Memphis hotel. Williams was released without bond and the case has gone before a Grand Jury. [1]

Albums

  • 1964 – Hank Williams, Jr. Sings The Songs Of Hank Williams
  • 1964 – Connie Francis & Hank Williams, Jr. Sing Great Country Favorites (Duet album)
  • 1965 – Father And Son
  • 1965 – Your Cheatin' Heart
  • 1966 – Country Shadows
  • 1967 – Hank Williams/Hank Williams, Jr. Again
  • 1968 – A Time To Sing
  • 1968 – The Best Of Hank Williams, Jr.
  • 1969 – Live At Cobo Hall
  • 1969 – Luke The Drifter, Jr.
  • 1969 – Songs My Father Left Me
  • 1970 – Greatest Hits
  • 1970 – Hank Williams, Jr. Singing The Songs Of Johnny Cash
  • 1970 – Removing The Shadow
  • 1971 – All For The Love Of Sunshine
  • 1971 – I've Got A Right To Cry
  • 1972 – Eleven Roses
  • 1972 – Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits Volume II
  • 1973 – After You, Pride's Not Hard To Swallow
  • 1973 – The Legend Of Hank Williams In Song And Story
  • 1974 – Living Proof
  • 1974 – The Last Love Song
  • 1975 – Insights Into Hank Williams In Song And Story
  • 1976 – Fourteen Greatest Hits
  • 1976 – Hank Williams, Jr. & Friends
  • 1977 – One Night Stands
  • 1977 – The New South
  • 1979 – Family Tradition
  • 1979 – Whiskey Bent And Hell Bound
  • 1980 – Habits Old and New
  • 1981 – The Pressure Is On
  • 1981 – Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits
  • 1983 – Strong Stuff
  • 1983 – Man of Steel
  • 1984 – Major Moves
  • 1985 – Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
  • 1986 – Montana Cafe
  • 1987 – Born to Boogie
  • 1988 – Wild Streak
  • 1989 – Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits, Vol. 3
  • 1990 – America (The Way I See It)
  • 1991 – The Best of Hank Williams, Jr.
  • 1992 – The Best Of Hank And Hank
  • 1993 – Out Of Left Field

Singles

  • 1964 – Guess What, That's Right, She's Gone
  • 1964 – Long Gone Lonesome Blues
  • 1965 – Mule Skinner Blues (with Connie Francis)
  • 1965 – Endless Sleep
  • 1966 – Standing In The Shadows
  • 1967 – I Can't Take It No Longer
  • 1967 – Nobody's Child
  • 1968 – I Was With Red Foley The Night He Passed Away
  • 1968 – It's All Over But The Crying
  • 1968 – The Old Ryman
  • 1969 – Be Careful Of The Stones That You Throw
  • 1969 – I'd Rather Be Gone
  • 1969 – A Baby Again
  • 1970 – All For The Love Of Sunsine
  • 1970 – I Walked Out On Heaven
  • 1970 – It Don't Take But One Mistake
  • 1970 – Removing The Shadow
  • 1970 – So Sad To Watch A Good Love Go Bad
  • 1970 – Something To Think About
  • 1971 – After All, They All Used To Belong To Me
  • 1971 – I've Got A Right To Cry
  • 1971 – Rainin' In My Heart
  • 1972 – Ain't That A Shame
  • 1972 – Eleven Roses
  • 1972 – Pride's Not Hard To Swallow
  • 1973 – The Last Love Song
  • 1974 – Angels Are Hard To Find
  • 1974 – I'll Think Of Something
  • 1974 – Rainy Night In Georgia
  • 1975 – Stoned At The Jukebox
  • 1975 – The Kind Of Woman I Got
  • 1975 – The Same Old Story
  • 1976 – Living Proof
  • 1977 – Honey, Won't You Call Me
  • 1977 – I'm Not Responsible
  • 1977 – Mobile Boogie
  • 1977 – One Night Stands
  • 1978 – Feelin' Better
  • 1978 – I Fought The Law
  • 1978 – Old Flame, New Fire
  • 1978 – You Love The Thunder
  • 1979 – Family Tradition
  • 1979 – To Love Somebody
  • 1979 – Whiskey Bent And Hell Bound
  • 1980 – Women I've Never Had
  • 1981 – All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down
  • 1981 – Dixie On My Mind
  • 1981 – Texas Women
  • 1982 – Honky Tonkin
  • 1982 – If Heaven Ain't A Lot Like Dixie
  • 1982 – A Country Boy Can Survive
  • 1982 – The American Dream
  • 1983 – Gonna Go Huntin' Tonight
  • 1983 – Leave Them Boys Alone
  • 1983 – Queen Of My Heart
  • 1983 – Man Of Steel
  • 1984 – All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight
  • 1984 – Attitude Adjustment
  • 1985 – Major Moves
  • 1985 – I'm For Love
  • 1985 – This Ain't Dallas
  • 1986 – Ain't Misbehavin
  • 1986 – Country State Of Mind
  • 1986 – Mind Your Own Business
  • 1987 – My Name Is Bocephus
  • 1987 – Born To Boogie
  • 1987 – Heaven Can't Be Found
  • 1988 – Young Country
  • 1988 – When Something Is Good, Why Does it Change
  • 1988 – Early In The Morning And Late At Night
  • 1988 – If The South Woulda Won
  • 1989 – Finders Are Keepers
  • 1989 – There's A Teer In My Beer
  • 1990 – Don't Give Us A Reason
  • 1990 – Ain't Nobody's Business
  • 1990 – Good Friends, Good Whiskey, And Good Lovin
  • 1991 – Angels Are Hard To Find
  • 1991 – If It Will It Will
  • 1992 – Come On Over To The Country
  • 1992 – Hotel Whiskey
  • 1993 – Everything Comes Down To Money And Love
  • 1993 – Diamond Mine
  • 1995 – I Ain't Goin Peacefully
  • 2002 – American Will Survive
  • 2002 – Outdoor Lovin' Man
  • 2003 – I'm One Of You
  • 2004 – The Devil In The Bottle
  • 2004 – Why Can't We All Just Get A Longneck
  • 2006 – A Country Boy Can Survive" (re-entry)

Box Sets

  • 2000 – The Bocephus Box
  • 1999 – The Complete Hank Williams Jr

Compilations

  • 1968 – Time to Sing
  • 1964 – Your Cheatin' Heart: Hank Williams' Life Story

Awards

  • 1990 — Video Of The Year – TNN/Music City News
  • 1990 — Vocal Collaboration Of The Year – TNN/ Music City News

Music Videos

  • That's How They Do It In Dixie (with Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Van Zant)
  • Hog Wild
  • I Ain't Goin' Peacefully
  • All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight
  • If It Will, It Will
  • Young Country
  • My Name Is Bocephus
  • Outlaw Women (with Gretchen Wilson) (Live)
  • Come On Over To The Country
  • Diamond Mine
  • Don Juan d'Bubba
  • Everything Comes Down To Money And Love
  • Why Can't We All Just Get A Long Neck?
  • America Will Survive
  • Guitar Man

Notes


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