ARTIST SPOTLIGHT = Hank Williams Sr (6 songs)
This Mount Olive AL-native singer-songwriter-guitarist hosted his own radio show on WSFA (Montgomery AL). Billed as “The Singing Kid”, he was a regular on the “Louisiana Hayride” (1948-1949). He formed his band, The Drifting Cowboys, as a teenager. After marrying Audrey Sheppard in 1944, they had a son, Hank Williams Jr. After he & Sheppard divorced (1952), he was fired from the Opry & married Billy Jean, who later married Johnny Horton. He died 01/01/1953 (age 29) of alcohol & drug abuse.
#1
This song, his 5th release, hit the airwaves 03/05/1949 & spent 42 weeks on the country charts, 16 of those at #1; it crossed over & reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song, which sparked a string of 5 straight Top 10s, won the Grammy & Rock-n-Roll Halls Of Fame. Of his 4 prior releases, 2 reached the Top 10: 1947’s “Move It On Over” (#4; his debut single) & 1948’s “I’m A Long Gone Daddy” (#6).
#2
This song debuted 07/23/1949, spent 11 weeks on the charts & peaked at #5, his 4th straight Top 10. Preceded by 1949’s “Wedding Bells” (#2, 2 weeks), it was followed by 1949’s “You’re Gonna Change” (#4). In 1986, his son, Hank Williams Jr, took this song to #1, with guest vocals from Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty & Reverend Ike.
#3
After 1949’s “Lost Highway” peaked at #12, 1949’s “My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It” started another streak of Top 10s (29) when it peaked at #2. This song, the 3rd in that streak, debuted 03/25/1950 & spent 21 weeks on the charts, 8 of those at #1. Of 6 more releases in 1950, 2 topped the charts: “Why Don’t You Love Me” (10 weeks) & “Moanin’ The Blues” (1 week).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JczEyQHBLEw
#4
This song, his 1st release in 1951, hit the airwaves 03/17/1951, spent 46 weeks on the charts & claimed #1. It was his 10th (of 29) straight Top 10 & was followed that same year by “Dear John” (#8), “I Can’t Help It” (#2, 2 weeks) & “Howlin’ At The Moon” (#3).
#5
Debuting 07/14/1951, this song spent 25 weeks on the charts, 8 of those at #1 as his 14th straight Top 10. It won the Hall Of Fame Grammy. Familiar tunes late 1951 through late 1952 include 1951’s “Crazy Heart” (#4), 1952’s “Honky Tonk Blues” (#2) & 1952’s “Jambalaya” (#1, 14 weeks).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdUmUFuPjqM
#6
His last release prior to his 01/01/1953 death was 1952’s “I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive”; it hit the airwaves 12/20/1952, less than 2 weeks before he died, & claimed #1 in early 1953. This song, 1 of 2 posthumous releases debuting 02/21/1953, spent 23 weeks on the charts, 6 of those at #1; it also won the Grammy Hall Of Fame award. The other song released the same date was “Kaw-Liga”, which claimed #1 for 13 weeks. His last official Top 10 was a duet with his son, 1989’s “There’s A Tear In My Beer”, which Hank Williams Jr released with his Dad’s vocals dubbed in via a vinyl record.