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Hank Williams: Performer's Life Span

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Haley Gambrell 000379986 Musicology 120, Section 1 Essay 1 Performer: Hank Williams Performer’s Life Span: 1923 – 1953 Location: Born in Mount Olive, AL. He and his family moved to Montgomery, AL when he was 13, this is where his career took off. Band Members: The original band members were Arthur Whiting and Braxton Schuffert as guitarists, Freddie Beach on fiddle, and Jimmy Porter on steel guitar. Bio: Hank (Hiram) Williams (Sr.) is the epitome of honky-tonk music. The genre of Williams’ music varies depending upon which song is being discussed. He varied between country, folk, blues, western, southern gospel, and of course honky-tonk. The reign of Williams’ music lasted from 1937 through his death in 1953. Williams is also considered one the most influential songwriters and singers of 20th century do to his 35 recorded singles, which made the Billboard Top 10 for Country and Western Best Sellers chart. 11 of these 35 singles placed number one on the charts. Hank Williams childhood was anything but easy. He was born with spina bifida occulta, a spinal condition which caused him great pain throughout his entire life, and is often considered a factor that led to his alcohol and drug abuse later in life. His father spent a lot of time …show more content…

The surgery did not go well and pushed Williams to rely on drugs and alcohol for relief. His career was dramatically affected by his poor habits. His substance abuse caused him to be fired from The Grand Ole Opry in late 1952. Hank Williams died shortly after, while on his way to perform a New Year’s Day show. His sudden death left fans without closure and led to immense popularity after death. Several songs were released after his death, including one of his biggest hits, Your Cheatin’ Heart. His son Hank Williams Jr. has carried on his musical accomplishments and continued to produce music and follow in his father’s

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