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Hank Williams
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Hank Williams wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, patterned suit jacket, and tie, looking slightly to the side in a black and white portrait. The Hillbilly Shakespeare
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Hank Williams wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, patterned suit jacket, and tie, looking slightly to the side in a black and white portrait.
Hank Williams on the cusp of fame Hank Williams, pictured here in the late 1940s, broke through as a country singer with the release of the song “Lovesick Blues” in 1949. By the time of his death, in 1953 at age 29, he had achieved iconic status, which was amplified by his reputation for hard living and heart-on-the-sleeve vulnerability.

Hank Williams

American musician
Also known as: Hiram King Williams, the Hillbilly Shakespeare(Show More)
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Jeff Wallenfeldt
Jeff Wallenfeldt was manager of Geography and History at Encyclopaedia Britannica.      
Jeff Wallenfeldt
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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•History

Hank Williams (born September 17, 1923, Mount Olive, Butler county, Alabama, U.S.—found dead January 1, 1953, Oak Hill, West Virginia) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who in the 1950s arguably became country music’s first superstar. An immensely talented songwriter and an impassioned vocalist, he also experienced great crossover success in the popular music market. His iconic status was amplified by his reputation for hard living and heart-on-the-sleeve vulnerability. Williams was born in Mount...

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