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.
Hank was born with a mild case of spina bifida. This gave him lifelong pain, and was a factor in his later drug and alcohol abuse. At the age of 14 Hiram changed his name to Hank, and got himself noticed by the producers of the WSFA radio station in Montgomery, where the Williams family were now living. After several appearances on radio Hank was given a salary of $15 by WSFA, and hosted a fifteen minute show twice a week.
Dropping out of school aged 16, he played full-time with his band, which was called the Drifting Cowboys. Several of the musicians were conscripted after the war started, and many of the replacements objected to Hank's drinking. In 1942 WSFA fired Hank for habitual drunkenness.
Hank's career as a singer continued in the war years, and in 1946/7 he had his first hits under the Sterling Records label. Signing for MGM records, he then had more success, and his first number one was Lovesick Blues in 1949. Several other number one and top ten hits followed before his death.
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.
An extensive collection of Hank Williams memorabilia, including the blue Cadillac in which he died, can be found at the Hank Williams Museum in downtown Montgomery. Visitors to the museum who are looking for overnight accommodation in the town may wish to consider Montgomery's newest all-suite hotel, the Staybridge Suites Montgomery Eastchase Hotel. Suites in the hotel have separate sleeping and living areas, fully equipped kitchens, and 32 inch LED TV. Hotel guest facilities include a sports court, a fitness center, and a heated pool.
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.
Hank was born with a mild case of spina bifida. This gave him lifelong pain, and was a factor in his later drug and alcohol abuse. At the age of 14 Hiram changed his name to Hank, and got himself noticed by the producers of the WSFA radio station in Montgomery, where the Williams family were now living. After several appearances on radio Hank was given a salary of $15 by WSFA, and hosted a fifteen minute show twice a week.
Dropping out of school aged 16, he played full-time with his band, which was called the Drifting Cowboys. Several of the musicians were conscripted after the war started, and many of the replacements objected to Hank's drinking. In 1942 WSFA fired Hank for habitual drunkenness.
Hank's career as a singer continued in the war years, and in 1946/7 he had his first hits under the Sterling Records label. Signing for MGM records, he then had more success, and his first number one was Lovesick Blues in 1949. Several other number one and top ten hits followed before his death.
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.
An extensive collection of Hank Williams memorabilia, including the blue Cadillac in which he died, can be found at the Hank Williams Museum in downtown Montgomery. Visitors to the museum who are looking for overnight accommodation in the town may wish to consider Montgomery's newest all-suite hotel, the Staybridge Suites Montgomery Eastchase Hotel. Suites in the hotel have separate sleeping and living areas, fully equipped kitchens, and 32 inch LED TV. Hotel guest facilities include a sports court, a fitness center, and a heated pool.
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