Hank Williams Jr.

Essay by Anonymous UserCollege, UndergraduateB, April 1997

download word file, 4 pages 4.7

I personally like this paper due to the fact that I am a huge fan of Bosephus "Good paper, but proofread, proofread, proofread."

Steven Wood

Jerry Erath

Essay 4

December 12, 1996

Hank Williams, Jr.

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...