Hank Williams

Hank Williams, Sr. (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) (legal name, Hiram Williams) was one of the most influential country musicians of all time, both as a singer and as a composer. In the words of country singer Faron Young (Brackett 2000, p.107), "He was the biggest change in the business. Before he came along, they were singing songs like 'Mama's Not Dead, She Just Quit Breathing'."

Quotes

• "A good song is a good song, and if I'm lucky enough to write it, well....! I get more kick out of writing than I do singing. I reckon I've written a thousand songs and had over 300 published." (From a 1952 interview with Ralph J. Gleason, published in a Rolling Stone magazine article 6/28/1969)