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This article is about Hank Williams, Jr.. For his father, see Hank Williams. For his son, see Hank Williams III.
Hank Williams, Jr. (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.
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. His rise to fame began with lessons on the piano by Jerry Lee Lewis and guitar by Johnny Cash. He began performing when eight years old, and in 1963 made his recording debut with "Long 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.
Although Williams' recordings earned him numerous country hits throughout the 1960s and early 1970s with his role as a 'Hank Williams clone', he became disillusioned 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.
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.
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 moved to Disney corporate sibling ESPN.
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.
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 a petition was started online to place Hank Williams, Jr. into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
On February 17, 2007 Hank Williams, Jr. filed for divorce from his fourth wife, Mary Jane, whom he married 16 years ago. "Today is one of the toughest days in my life," Williams, Jr. said in a statement sent to The Associated Press by his publicist, Kirt Webster. "All families experience difficulties; I hope everyone will respect our privacy during this time." .
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.
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 went before a Grand Jury. However, the case was later dropped.
Year
Single
Chart Positions
Album
US Country
US Hot 100
"Long Gone Lonesome Blues"
#5
#67
Songs of Hank Williams
"Guess What, That's Right, She's Gone"
#42
(Single Only)
"Endless Sleep"
#46
#90
(Single Only)
"Standing In the Shadows"
#5
Country Shadows
"I Can't Take It No Longer"
#43
My Own Way
"Nobody's Child"
#46
My Own Way
"Old Ryman"
#51
(Single Only)
"It's All Over But the Crying"
#3
Time to Sing
"I Was With Red Foley (The Night He Passed Away)"
#39
Luke the Drifter Jr.
"Baby Again"
#16
Time to Sing
"Cajun Baby"
#3
Songs My Father Left Me
"Be Careful of Stones That You Throw"
#37
Luke the Drifter Jr. 2
"I'd Rather Be Gone"
#4
Greatest Hits (MGM)
"Something to Think About"
#36
Luke the Drifter Jr. 3
"I Walked Out on Heaven"
#12
(Single Only)
"It Don't Take But One Mistake"
#36
Luke the Drifter 3
"Removing the Shadow" (with Lois Johnson)
#23
Removing the Shadow (with Lois Johnson)
"All For the Love of Sunshine"
#1
All For the Love of Sunshine
"So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" (with Lois Johnson)
#12
Removing the Shadow (with Lois Johnson)
"Rainin' In My Heart"
#3
All For the Love of Sunshine
"I've Got a Right to Cry"
#6
I've Got a Right to Cry
"After All, They Used to Belong to Me"
#18
I've Got a Right to Cry
"Ain't That a Shame"
#1
Sweet Dreams (with Mike Curb congregation)
"Eleven Roses"
#1
Eleven Roses
"Pride's Not Hard to Swallow"
#3
After You/Pride's Not Hard to Swallow
"After You"
#23
After You/Pride's Not Hard to Swallow
"Hank"
#12
(Single Only)
"Last Love Song"
#4
The Last Love Song
"Rainy Night In Georgia"
#13
The Last Love Song
"I'll Think of Something"
#7
Living Proof
"Angels Are Hard to Find"
#19
Living Proof
"Kind of Woman I Got"
#26
Bocephus
"Same Old Story"
#29
Bocephus
"Stoned At the Jukebox"
#19
Hank and Friends
"Living Proof"
#38
Hank and Friends
"Mobile Boogie"
#27
One Night Stand
"I'm Not Responsibe"
#59
One Night Stands
"One Night Stands"
#47
One Night Stands
"Feelin' Better"
#38
New South
"You Love the Thunder"
#76
(Single Only)
"I Fought the Law"
#15
Family Tradition
"Old Flame, New Fire"
#54
Family Tradition
"To Love Somebody"
#49
Family Tradition
"Family Tradition"
#4
Family Tradition
"Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound"
#2
Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound
"Women I've Never Had"
#5
Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound
"Kaw Liga"
#12
Habits, Old and New
"Old Habits"
#6
Habits, Old and New
"Texas Women"
#1
Rowdy
"Dixie on My Mind"
#1
Rowdy
"All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)"
#1
The Pressure Is On
"A Country Boy Can Survive"
#2
The Pressure Is On
"Honky Tonkin'"
#1
High Notes
"If Heaven Ain't a Lot Like Dixie"
#5
High Notes
"Gonna Go Huntin' Tonight"
#4
Strong Stuff
"American Dream"
#5
Greatest Hits (Warner Bros.)
"Leave Them Boys Alone"
#6
Strong Stuff
"Queen of My Heart"
#5
Man of Steel
"Man of Steel"
#3
Man of Steel
"Attitude Adjustment"
#5
Major Moves
"All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight"
#10
Major Moves
"Major Moves"
#10
Major Moves
"I'm For Love"
#1
Five-O
"This Ain't Dallas"
#4
Five-O
"Ain't Misbehavin'"
#1
Five-O
"Country State of Mind"
#2
Montana Cafe
"Mind Your Own Business"
#1
Montana Cafe
"When Something Is Good (Why Does It Change)"
#31
Montana Cafe
"Born to Boogie"
#1
Born to Boogie
"Heaven Can't Be Found"
#4
Born to Boogie
"Young Country"
#2
Born to Boogie
"If the South Woulda Won"
#8
Wild Streak
"Early In the Morning and Late At Night"
#14
Wild Streak
"There's a Tear In My Beer" (with Hank Williams Sr.)
#7
Greatest Hits 3 (Warner Bros.)
"Finders Are Keepers"
#6
Greatest Hits 3 (Warner Bros.)
"Ain't Nobody's Business"
#15
Lone Wolf
"Good Friends, Good Whiskey, Good Lovin'"
#10
Lone Wolf
"Man to Man'
#62
Lone Wolf
"Don't Give Us a Reason"
#27
America (The Way I See It)
"I Mean I Love You"
#39
Lone Wolf
"If It Will, It Will"
#26
Pure Hank
"Angels Are Hard to Find"
#59
Pure Hank
"Hotel Whiskey"
#54
Maverick
"Come on Over to the Country"
#55
Maverick
"Everything Comes Down to Money"
#62
(Single Only)
"I Ain't Goin' Peacefully"
#75
Hog Wild
"America Will Survive"
#45
(Single Only)
"Outdoor Lovin' Man"
#60
The Almeria Club Recordings
"I'm One of You"
#39
I'm One of You
"Devil In the Bottle"
#59
I'm One of You
"Why Can't We All Just Get a Longneck"
#36
I'm One of You
"That's How They Do It In Dixie" (w/ Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson and Van Zant)
#38
That's How They Do It In Dixie: The Essential Collection
"A Country Boy Can Survive" (Remix)
#47
(Single Only)
Date of release
Title
Record label
April 06, 1999
The Complete Hank Williams Jr
Curb Records
August 29, 2000
The Bocephus Box
Curb Records
Year
Award
Awards
Tennessean of the Year
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
Johnny Cash Visionary Award
CMT Music Awards
Composed Theme
Emmy
Composed Theme
Emmy
Composed Theme
Emmy
Composed Theme
Emmy
Video Of The Year
TNN/Music City News
Vocal Collaboration Of The Year
TNN/Music City News
Video Of The Year
Academy of Country Music
Music Video Of The Year
Country Music Association
Vocal Event Of The Year
Country Music Association
Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
Grammy
Entertainer Of The Year
Academy of Country Music
Video Of The Year
Academy of Country Music
Album Of The Year
Country Music Association
Entertainer Of The Year
Country Music Awards
Entertainer Of The Year
Academy of Country Music
Entertainer Of The Year
Country Music Association
Music Video Of The Year
Country Music Association
Entertainer Of The Year
Academy of Country Music
Music Video Of The Year
Country Music Association
Video Of The Year
Academy of Country Music
