Hiram «Hank» Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he recorded 35 singles (five released posthumously) that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 that reached No. 1 (three posthumously).
Born and raised in Alabama, Williams was given guitar lessons by African-American blues musician Rufus Payne in exchange for meals or money. Payne, along with Roy Acuff and Ernest Tubb, had a major influence on Williams’s later musical style. Williams began his music career in Montgomery in 1937, when producers at local radio station WSFA hired him to perform and host a 15-minute program. He formed the Drifting Cowboys backup band, which was managed by his mother, and dropped out of school to devote his time to his career. When several of his band members were drafted during World War II, he had trouble with their replacements, and WSFA terminated his contract because of his alcoholism.
Williams married singer Audrey Sheppard, who was his manager for nearly a decade. After recording «Never Again» and «Honky Tonkin'» with Sterling Records, he signed a contract with MGM Records. In 1947, he released «Move It on Over», which became a hit, and also joined the Louisiana Hayride radio program. One year later, he released a cover of «Lovesick Blues», which carried him into the mainstream. After an initial rejection, Williams joined the Grand Ole Opry. He was unable to read or notate music to any significant degree. Among the hits he wrote were «Your Cheatin’ Heart», «Hey, Good Lookin'», and «I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry».
Years of back pain, alcoholism, and prescription drug abuse severely compromised Williams’s health. In 1952, he divorced Sheppard and married singer Billie Jean Horton. He was dismissed by the Grand Ole Opry because of his unreliability and alcoholism. On New Year’s Day 1953, he suffered from heart failure and died suddenly at the age of 29 in Oak Hill, West Virginia. Despite his relatively brief career, he is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century, especially in country music. Many artists have covered his songs and he has influenced Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, George Jones, George Strait, Charley Pride, and The Rolling Stones, among others. Williams was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. The Pulitzer Prize jury awarded him a posthumous special citation in 2010 for his «craftsmanship as a songwriter who expressed universal feelings with poignant simplicity and played a pivotal role in transforming country music into a major musical and cultural force in American life»…..
 Hank Williams Jr. comes to the stage and intros the evening and mentions several special guests, they stand from the audience; Roy Acuff, Little Jimmy Dickens, Minnie Pearl, Wesley Rose, Don Helms and Jerry Rivers / (02:17) Hank Williams Jr. (w/ guitar) “Hey Good Lookin’”/ (03:26) brief cut to black / (03:40) Hank Jr. intros Kris Kristofferson / (04:05) Kris Kristofferson sings “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” / (06:41) video re-enactment of Hank Sr. as a boy and his mentor Tee Tot / (09:00) cuts back to stage with Kristofferson recalling the first time he heard Hank Williams / (09:38) Hank Jr. and Kris Kristofferson “Nobody’s Lonesome for Me” / (12:00) cuts briefly to black / (12:15) Hank Williams Jr. intros Brenda Lee / (12:52) Brenda Lee comes to stage and performs “Jambalaya” / (14:35) Don Helms provides voiceover for intro of vide re-enactment depicting Hank Williams (Jim Owen) onstage performing “Honky Tonk Blues”, Williams is then shown knocking a belligerent patron out with his guitar / (16:53) video continues with Williams performing “Why Don’t You Love Me Like You Used To Do” at a medicine show and flirting with and meeting his would be wife, Audrey Shepherd / (20:17) cut back to Brenda Lee onstage honoring Hank Williams / (21:11) Brenda Lee “I Can’t Help It” / (24:30) cut to black / (24:45) Hank Williams Jr. at piano performs “You Win Again” substantial video signal distortion / (28:27) Wesley Rose in voiceover, intros video re-enactment of Hank Williams first getting signed by Acuff-Rose and working towards the Opry, re-enactment continues with Hank Williams in studio recording “Move It On Over” / (32:32) cut / (32:46) Hank Jr. intros Johnny Cash / (33:19) cut to video of Cash performing at the Ryman “These Men With Broken Hearts” / (36:29) when Cash finishes the song he asks Hank Jr. to join him onstage, Hank Williams Jr. recalls that when he woke in the hospital, Cash was there / (38:06) Johnny Cash and Hank Williams Jr. perform “Kaw-Liga” / (40:34) cut back to tribute ceremony with Hank Jr. onstage talking about Hank Williams Opry debut / (41:25) video reenactment begins, depicting Hank Williams Opry debut performance of “Lovesick Blues” some substantial video distortion during this portion / (45:03) video re-enactment continues with depiction of Hank Williams on tourbus and Ernest Tubb getting onto him about his drinking / (47:26) title card announces more to come){kind=link}