|
Born Randall Hank Williams Jr. on May 26th 1949, in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. The son of the most famous man in
country music, Hank Williams, he was nicknamed Bocephus after a puppet on the Grand Ole
Opry. Being the son of a country legend has brought financial security, but it was difficult for him to firmly establish
his own individuality. His mother, Audrey, was determined that he would follow in his father's footsteps. When only eight
years old, he was touring, performing with his father's songs, and even appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. He also had
a high school band, Rockin' Randall And The Rockets. He signed for the same label as his father, MGM Records, as soon as his
voice broke. In the 60s, Williams had country hits with "Long Gone Lonesome Blues", "Cajun Baby", a revival of "Endless Sleep",
and the only version of "Nobody's Child" ever to make the country charts. He also recorded a narration about his relationship
with his father, "Standing In The Shadows". He even took on the persona of Luke the Drifter Jr., with the song, "I Was
With Red Foley (The Night He Passed Away)'. He copied his father's style for the soundtrack
of the film biography of his father, Your Cheatin' Heart (1964), and starred in A Time
To Sing. He was just 15 years old and Connie Francis was 26 when they released a duet
about adultery, "Walk On By".
In 1974, Williams Jr. moved to Alabama where he recorded a hard-hitting album, Hank Williams Jr. And Friends, with
Charlie Daniels and other top-class southern country rockers. Like his father, he has had
arguments with Audrey, gone through an unhappy marriage and overindulged in alcohol and drugs. "Getting Over You" relates
to his life, and in another song, he explains that it's the "Family Tradition". On August 8th, 1975, Hank Williams Jr. fell
500 feet down a Montana mountain face. Although close to death, he made a remarkable recovery, needing extensive medical and
cosmetic surgery. Half of his face was reconstructed and he had to learn to speak (and sing) all over again. It was two years
before he could perform once more. Since 1977, Hank, who is managed by Merle Kilgore (famous for penning the Johnny Cash classic
'Ring Of Fire'), has been associated with the "outlaw country music" genre. Waylon Jennings,
for example, wrote Jr.'s country hit "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?" and produced his album The New South.
In 1983, he had nine albums on the US country charts simultaneously, yet was not chosen as Entertainer of the Year in
the Country Music Awards. In 1985, Williams released his fiftieth album, Five-O. His
best compositions include "Montana Cafe", "OD'd In Denver", the jazzy "Women I've Never Had" and his tale of a visit to a
gay disco, "Dinosaur". "If The South Woulda Won" was criticized for being racist but, possibly, he was being sardonic. However,
there was no mistaking of his tone towards Saddam Hussein in "Don't Give Us A Reason". Among his other successes are "I Fought
The Law", "Tennessee Stud", "Ain"t Misbehavin'" and his cri de coeur, "If Heaven Ain't A Lot Like Dixie".
Although Williams has shown a determination to move away from his father's shadow, he still sings about him. Many tribute
songs by others - "If You Don't Like Hank Williams" and "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?" - gain an extra dimension through
his interpretations. Williams himself was the subject of a tribute from David Allan Coe,
who insisted that a man of six feet four inches and close to 200 lbs should not be called "Jr". Williams' rowdy image
did not fit in well with the clean-cut "hat acts" of the early 90s, and his record sales and air play faltered. He remains
a sell-out concert draw. He has also performed live with his own son, Hank Williams III,
and returned to recording in 1999 with the typically forthright Stormy.
Now, Hank has done it again with the release of his latest album, 'Almeria Club.' Recorded in an old one-room schoolhouse,
it gives forth everything that Hank has to give. From country to bluegrass, rock-a-billy to rock and roll, this is one
of the finest recordings heard in a long time. Only time will tell what 'Ol Hank has up his sleeve.
Sources:
Country.com
The Complete Hank Williams, Jr. Box Set
The Bocephus Box
'Living Proof' Box Set
'Living Proof-An Autobiography' by Hank Williams, Jr. and Michael Bane
|
