Hank Williams Jr.

Hank Williams Jr.


Jerry Erath

Essay

4 December 12, 1996


     Hank Williams, Jr. was meant to be a superstar from the day he was born.

His father, the legendary Hank Williams, and mother, Audrey Sheppard, both

played an intricate part in his early stardom.  Hank had to overcome many

obstacles in his life including escaping from his father's shadow and a near

death experience in 1975.  Hank's many triumphs, and his ability to overcome

setbacks, have propelled him to a legendary status.

     Born May 26, 1949, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Randall Hank Williams, Jr.

was destined to become a star.  Tragically, his father died on New Years day,

1953, at the young age on twenty nine ("Official Home Page," Biography).

However, his mother, a country singer in her own right, helped Hank Jr. start

one of the earliest, and most successful, childhood careers in country music

history.

     Hank appeared on stage for the first time at the young age of eight.

Hank appeared on the Grand Ole Opry at the age of eleven, singing his father's

songs in his father's style.  At the age of fourteen Hank recorded his first

album, a hit rendition of his father's "Lone Gone Lonesome Blues."  At an age

when most young boys are playing Little League baseball or football, Hank was

learning the piano from Jerry Lee Lewis, appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, and

performing before crowds of up to twenty thousand.

     In 1969, Hank teamed up with Johnny Cash to perform in the largest

country concert to date.  In 1970, Hank signed the biggest recording contract in

the history of MGM Records.  As proud as he was of being the son of Hank

Williams, Hank got tired of being in his father's shadow.  In high school, known

as "Rockin' Randall," Hank played contemporary rock, however, that had to be

kept secret from all his traditional country fans.  He also liked to listen to

rhythm and blues, however, these types of music were looked down on by many in

Nashville.  Later in his career, Hank even released a couple of rock singles

under the name Bo Cephus on Verve Records, a subdivision of MGM.  The split

between what he wanted to do and what he was expected to do , along with his

long-term alcohol and drug abuse, developed into a downward spiral of his career

that led to a 1974 suicide attempt.

     In early 1975, Hank recorded "Hank Williams, Jr. and Friends," his first

true step to escaping his father's shadow and the past.  Although the album was

a success, MGM wanted him to return to the style that would keep his longtime

country fans happy.  An angry Hank told MGM that he was though with the company

("Bosephus Background," MGM).

     Hank then signed with Warner Brothers ("Bosephus Background,
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