Hank Williams, Jr.
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Hank Williams, Jr. (born May 26, 1949 in Shreveport , Louisiana ) is an American country musician and the son of the successful country musician Hank Williams and father of Hank Williams III .
biography
After his father's death in 1953, Williams Jr. was raised by his mother Audrey alone. At the age of eight he already appeared as a musician. He was to follow in the footsteps of his famous and young deceased father, from which he suffered for many years.
In 1963 he released his debut album Lone Gone Lonesome Blue with songs by his father. After he recorded the soundtrack for a film biography about Hank Williams, Sr., Your Cheatin 'Heart , his first original composition, Standing in the Shadows , became a chart success . The song signaled that he was moving out of his father's shadow more towards rock and other musical influences.
Williams became severely addicted to alcohol and drugs in the early 1970s, despite continued success. In 1972 his son Hank Williams III was born, who would later become a country musician himself. In 1974 there was a suicide attempt. He then moved to Alabama and began working with southern rock musicians such as Toy Caldwell, the Marshall Tucker Band, and Charlie Daniels .
Another stroke of fate struck him in 1975: he was seriously injured in a mountain accident. It took two years to recover, and he had disfigurements on his face that he has since covered up with a full beard. He worked with Waylon Jennings on his album The New South (1977), but did not return to the charts until the late 1970s with his cover version of Sonny Curtis' I Fought the Law . The success continued with the 1979 albums Family Tradition and Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound .
In the 1980s, Williams became a superstar, best known for his rousing anthems and tough, rock-influenced country. At the end of the decade, however, the hits became rarer again. His last success was There's a Tear in My Beer , a composition by his late father, which he sang in a duet with him using electronic mixing technology. The accompanying video was voted Video of the Year by the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music , and in 1990 Williams received a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.
In the USA he is now also known as the interpreter of the theme song for Monday Football Night , which is based on his song All My Rowdy Friends . Williams was awarded the Emmy four times for this.
On October 3, 2011, Williams sparked controversy during an appearance on Fox News . Williams said the golf outing of Barack Obama and John Boehner , the Republican Speaker of the House, was "like when Hitler with Netanyahu would play golf" . He also made the statement that Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were "the enemy" . Because of these drastic statements, there was also criticism from the Republican side. As one of the episodes, Williams' theme song for Monday Football Night on the American sports channel ESPN was no longer used. The broadcaster left it open whether the song will be included in the program again. In a statement dated October 6, 2011, Hank Williams Jr. and ESPN ended their collaboration after 20 years. In August 2012, Williams said of President Obama: "We have a Muslim president who hates farming, hates the military and the Americans hate as much as we hate him!" .
On the evening of June 13, 2020, his daughter Katherine Williams-Dunning died at the age of 27 in a self-inflicted car accident on a highway near Henry County, Tennessee.
In the US, Hank Williams Jr. is also known by the nickname "Bocephus".
Discography
Studio albums
| year | Title music label |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US
|
Country
|
|||
| 1964 | Sings the Songs of Hank Williams MGM 4213 |
- |
Country12 (7 weeks) Country |
First published: April 1965
|
| 1965 | Your Cheatin 'Heart MGM 4260 |
US16  (37 weeks)US |
Country5 (16 weeks) Country |
First published: February 1965
Soundtrack for the film Hank Williams' Life Story Producers: Jesse Kaye, Jim Vienneau |
| Father & Son MGM 4276 |
US139 (3 weeks) US |
Country8 (14 weeks) Country |
First published: June 1965
with Hank Williams, Sr. |
|
| 1966 | Country Shadows MGM 4391 |
- |
Country33 (4 weeks) Country |
First published: October 1966
Producer: Jim Vienneau |
| 1967 | Again MGM 4378 |
- |
Country38 (2 weeks) Country |
|
| My Own Way MGM 4428 |
- |
Country42 (6 weeks) Country |
First published: June 1967
Producers: Jack Clement , Jim Vienneau |
|
| 1968 | A Time to Sing MGM 4540 |
US189 (3 weeks) US |
Country12 (24 weeks) Country |
First release: September 1968
with Shelley Fabares and Ed Begley From the soundtrack of the film of the same name ( Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ), producer: Sam Katzman |
| 1969 | Songs My Father Left Me MGM 4621 |
US164 (4 weeks) US |
Country1 (24 weeks) Country |
First published: March 1969
Producer: Jim Vienneau |
| Luke the Drifter, Jr. MGM 4559 |
- |
Country20 (6 weeks) Country |
First published: January 1969
as Luke the Drifter, Jr. Producer: Jim Vienneau |
|
| 1970 | Singing My Songs (Johnny Cash) MGM 4675 |
- |
Country32 (9 weeks) Country |
First published: July 1970
|
| Removing the Shadow MGM 4721 |
- |
Country21 (7 weeks) Country |
First published: October 1970
with Lois Johnson Producer: Jim Vienneau |
|
| 1971 | All for the Love of Sunshine MGM 4750 |
- |
Country10 (14 weeks) Country |
|
| I've Got a Right to Cry / They All Used to Belong to Me MGM 4774 |
- |
Country23 (10 weeks) Country |
First published: August 1971
Producer: Jim Vienneau |
|
| 1972 | Eleven Roses MGM 4843 |
- |
Country6 (16 weeks) Country |
First published: July 1972
Producer: Jim Vienneau |
| Send Me Some Lovin 'and Whole Lotta Loving MGM 4857 |
- |
Country35 (4 weeks) Country |
First published: October 1972
with Lois Johnson |
|
| 1973 | After You / Pride's Not Hard to Swallow MGM 4862 |
- |
Country20 (9 weeks) Country |
First published: April 1973
Producer: Jim Vienneau |
| 1974 | The Last Love Song MGM 4936 |
- |
Country17 (11 weeks) Country |
First published: April 1973
Producer: Jim Vienneau |
| Living Proof MGM 4971 |
- |
Country31 (14 weeks) Country |
First published: October 1974
Producer: Jim Vienneau |
|
| 1975 | Bocephus MGM 4988 |
- |
Country41 (4 weeks) Country |
First published: May 1975
Producer: Dick Glasser |
| 1976 | Hank Williams, Jr. and Friends MGM 5009 |
- |
Country17 (12 weeks) Country |
First published: January 1976
Producer: Dick Glasser |
| 1977 | One Night Stands Warner / Curb 2988 |
- |
Country33 (24 weeks) Country |
First published: April 1977
Recording: Wishbone Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals , Alabama Producer: Hank Williams, Jr. |
| 1979 | Family Tradition Elektra / Curb 194 |
US- |
Country3 (141 weeks) Country |
First published: June 1979
Producers: Jimmy Bowen , Phil Gernhard, Ray Ruff |
| Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound Elektra / Curb 237 |
US-  |
Country5 (141 weeks) Country |
First published: October 1, 1979
Producer: Jimmy Bowen |
|
| 1980 | Habits Old and New Elektra / Curb 278 |
US154 (17 weeks)US |
Country4 (87 weeks) Country |
|
| 1981 | Rowdy Elektra / Curb 330 |
US82 (15 weeks)US |
Country2 (68 weeks) Country |
First published: January 1981
Producer: Jimmy Bowen |
| The Pressure Is On Elektra / Curb 535 |
US76 (23 weeks)US |
Country5 (78 weeks) Country |
First published: August 1981
Recording: Sound Stage Studios in Nashville, Tennessee Producer: Jimmy Bowen |
|
| The New South Elektra / Curb 539 |
- |
Country36 (22 weeks) Country |
||
| 1982 | High Notes Elektra / Curb 60100 |
US123 (20 weeks)US |
Country3 (48 weeks) Country |
First published: April 2, 1982
Producer: Jimmy Bowen |
| 1983 | Strong Stuff Elektra / Curb 60223 |
US64 (16 weeks)US |
Country7 (37 weeks) Country |
First published: Jan 21, 1983
Producers: Jimmy Bowen, Hank Williams, Jr. |
| Man of Steel Warner / Curb 23924 |
US116 (13 weeks)US |
Country3 (68 weeks) Country |
First published: September 26, 1983
Producers: Jimmy Bowen, Hank Williams, Jr. |
|
| 1984 | Major Moves Warner / Curb 25088 |
US100 (19 weeks)US |
Country1 (60 weeks) Country |
First published: May 14, 1984
Producers: Hank Williams, Jr., Jimmy Bowen |
| 1985 | Five-O Warner / Curb 25267 |
US72 (22 weeks)US |
Country1 (73 weeks) Country |
First published: May 1985
Producers: Hank Williams, Jr., Jimmy Bowen |
| 1986 | Montana Cafe Warner / Curb 25412 |
US93 (18 weeks)US |
Country1 (55 weeks) Country |
First published: June 23, 1986
Producers: Barry Beckett , Hank Williams Jr., Jim Ed Norman |
| 1987 | Born to Boogie Warner / Curb 25593 |
US28 (47 weeks)US |
Country1 (96 weeks) Country |
Initial release: July 7, 1987
CMA Awards (Album of the Year) Producers: Barry Beckett, Hank Williams, Jr., Jim Ed Norman |
| 1988 | Wild Streak Warner / Curb 25834 |
US55 (19 weeks)US |
Country1 (50 weeks) Country |
First released: June 21, 1988
Producers: Barry Beckett, Hank Williams, Jr., Jim Ed Norman |
| 1990 | Lone Wolf Warner / Curb 26090 |
US71 (18 weeks)US |
Country2 (59 weeks) Country |
First published January 30, 1990
Producers: Barry Beckett, Hank Williams, Jr., Jim Ed Norman |
| 1991 | Pure Hank Warner / Curb 26536 |
US50 (19 weeks)US |
Country8 (40 weeks) Country |
First published: April 16, 1991
Producers: Barry Beckett, Hank Williams, Jr., Jim Ed Norman |
| 1992 | Maverick Curb / Capricorn 26806 |
US55 (20 weeks)US |
Country7 (29 weeks) Country |
First published: February 18, 1992
Producers: Barry Beckett, Hank Williams Jr., James Stroud |
| 1993 | Out of Left Field Curb / Capricorn 45225 |
US121 (4 weeks) US |
Country25 (11 weeks) Country |
First published: March 1993
Producers: Barry Beckett, Hank Williams Jr., James Stroud |
| 1995 | Hog Wild Curb 77690 |
US91 (14 weeks) US |
Country14 (26 weeks) Country |
First published: January 1995
Producers: Chuck Howard, Hank Williams Jr. |
| 1996 | AKA Wham Bam Sam Curb 77833 |
- |
Country40 (9 weeks) Country |
First published: April 1996
Producer: Chuck Howard |
| Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts Curb 77868 |
US167 (1 week) US |
Country29 (20 weeks) Country |
||
| 1999 | Stormy Curb 77953 |
US162 (1 week) US |
Country21 (10 weeks) Country |
First published: August 1999
Producers: Chuck Howard, Hank Williams Jr. |
| 2002 | Almeria Club Curb 78725 |
US112 (5 weeks) US |
Country9 (32 weeks) Country |
First published: January 2002
Producer: Chuck Howard |
| 2004 | I'm One of You Curb 78830 |
US166 (1 week) US |
Country24 (19 weeks) Country |
First published: November 2003
Producers: Doug Johnson, Hank Williams Jr. |
| 2009 | 127 Rose Avenue Curb 79149 |
US19 (6 weeks) US |
Country7 (27 weeks) Country |
First published: June 2009
Producers: Doug Johnson, Hank Williams Jr. |
| 2012 | Old School, New Rules Bocephus 531 268 |
US12 (7 weeks) US |
Country4 (27 weeks) Country |
First published: July 10, 2012
Producer: Chris Farren |
| 2016 | It's About Time Nash Icon |
US15 (5 weeks) US |
Country2 (21 weeks) Country |
First published: January 15, 2016
Producer: Julian Raymond |
swell
- ↑ Analogy with Hitler and Obama: TV station shoots Countrystar. In: Spiegel Online . October 4, 2011, accessed June 9, 2018 .
- ↑ CMN: After 20 years: Hank Williams, Jr. and ESPN end collaboration . Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ↑ Article in Rolling Stone Magazine
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Chart sources: Chartsurfer
- ^ The Billboard Albums by Joel Whitburn , 6th Edition, Record Research 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7 .
- ^ Joel Whitburn : Hot Country Albums 1964-2007, ISBN 0-89820-173-X .
Web links
- Web presence
- http://www.cmt.com Entry at CMT (Country Music Television)
- Interview with Hank Williams Jr.
- Article about Hank Williams Jr. (Country.de)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Williams, Hank, Jr. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Williams, Hank Jr. |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American country musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 26, 1949 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Shreveport , Louisiana , USA |