My Essential Songs: Hank Williams

Hank Williams is considered to be one of the most influential cultural icons of the 20th century, when it comes to country music there is nobody that can do what Hank Williams did. Hank Williams is known as the forefather of modern country music and one of the pioneers of music of the south. Personally, I love Hank Williams for his incredible amount of style and his amazing singing voice which, at the time was so unique that the majority of male country stars since have tried to copy or use influence from his sound.

Hank Williams was born in Alabama on the September 17, 1923 and therefore, spent his childhood in the Great Depression. He also was born with a birth defect which left him with severe back pains, something that would come back to haunt him later on in his career—something that he couldn't possibly rid himself from.

It was Rufus Payne that began to give a young Hank Williams guitar lessons, teaching him to play simple chords and tunes. Payne would die in poverty in 1939, Williams crediting Payne as the only real teacher he ever had.

Later on, during the end of the 30s, Hank Williams would participate in a competition in which he had to write his own song and perform it. Obviously, he won. It was $15 but at that time, I can bet it was well worth it.

One of the great things about Hank Williams is that he never actually learned how to read music. He just wrote what he knew and played what he wanted. The fact that his songs were so good really gives to the idea that he was doing something other people weren't and it was working very well. Hank Williams was eventually hired for a radio show (WSFA) twice a week, making $15 a show—because of popular demand after one performance.

During the war, Hank Williams was stuck inside of Mobile (ha ha ha, see what I did there), Alabama shipbuilding and playing for soldiers. He was drafted, which means he couldn't tour—but during the 40s, his alcoholism was already a problem for the Drifting Cowboys (his band). He married his manager, Audrey Shepherd—but the marriage was deemed illegal because of her previous marriage not having a clear divorce.

Hank Williams would go on to have many hit songs, but struggle with his alcoholism, even more so after a fall which brought about more of his back pains. He began abusing morphine and, even at the height of his fame in the early 50s, he would cut himself short after he showed up to sets drunk or not at all.

Hank Williams died on New Year's Day, 1953. It was such a massive loss for the music world that even the likes of Bob Dylan, who remembers it, says that it was extremely saddening.

Hank Williams' impact on country music is unrivaled, he even influenced the growth of the blues in the early 20th century. Again, I will say that I love his music and today, we are going to count his twenty most essential songs to listen to if you were going to begin with your Hank Williams journey.

Hank Williams 20 Essential Songs

20. "Lonesome Whistle"

19. "Howlin' at the Moon"

18. "Lost Highway"

17. "Long Gone Lonesome Blues"

16. "You Win Again"

15. "Your Cheatin' Heart"

14. "Honky Tonk Blues"

13. "Mind Your Own Business"

12. "I Can't Help It"

11. "Lovesick Blues"

10. "California Zephyr"

9. "The Blues Come Around."

8. "Pan American"

7. "Calling You"

6. "Cold, Cold Heart"

5. "Moanin' the Blues"

4. "Take These Chain's From My Heart"

3. "I Saw the Light"

2. "Move it on Over"

1. "Kaw-Liga"

Conclusion

Hank Williams was a great, great musician and an incredible singer. He had one turbulent career as well with his defect in his back and his alcoholism. His active years are listed as 1937-1952, but his legacy is timeless. Without Hank Williams, we wouldn't have had the amazing country/blues sounds we do now. We, most importantly, wouldn't have songs like "Kaw-Liga" and "Your Cheatin' Heart" and that would be a major loss. "Kaw-Liga" is my personal favourite Hank Williams song, so if you listen to any song by him from this list—have it either be that one or my other favourite, "Pan American."

Hank Williams not only influenced the style of music he was famous for, but he also influenced the performance of it. There are many pieces of strange footage and recordings of Hank Williams performing his songs live and he sounds amazing. This sound can only be created from someone who knows exactly what they're doing when it comes to recording their songs. Even though towards the end of his life he became unreliable and unpredictable, throughout the highs of his career he was the best at what he did.

Unfortunately, he died at only 29-years-old, but we should be happy we have the music we have of his to remember him by. And, if we're still listening to him almost one hundred years after his birth, he's done what he came on Earth to do. He remains, to this day, completely timeless.