Today several gold and platinum LPs, CMA and ACM trophies and sold-out concerts later Bocephus is still a musical force to be reckoned with. Texas Women, is my favorite. I cant listen to five seconds of it. He was 26, not 34. For my money, I would say that Blues Man is artistically his best, but I agree with everyone elses lists of his greatest songs. Hank Jrs mom, Audrey, then took it upon herself to turn her darling son into a little miniature version of his father. I would say his ballads are his best offerings. In 1966, Hank Jr began to show the world that he too was a gifted songwriter with his track Standing in the Shadows (of a Very Famous Man) which reached the number five position on the country charts that year. Both of my son-in-laws and grandsons, and 127 Alabama doves. Its probably selfish on my part to wish that artists (and athletes and movie stars) keep their politics to themselves. Dinosaur is my all-time favorite country song and, for my money, Whiskey Bend and Hell Bound is the best country song written. I by no means want to infer he does not have incredible talent.. However Ive seen him live in concert and it was terrible. And expressed his belief that he should have died. And throughout that time, he had to have several more surgeries. (Photo: Instagram) if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'hollywoodmask_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_12',171,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hollywoodmask_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); "June put a cross on me and told me it was all going to be OK. I cant remember the number of times Ive had to ignore an artists left-wing (and very public) views if I wanted to enjoy their art, but that same artist got kudos for participating in left-wing activism. Six hours after the initial fall occurred, Hank Jr. finally arrived at the Missoula Community Hospital to receive treatment. January 27, 2023, 7:28 pm, by Tyler and Katherine married in October of 2015. His partner left his 11-year-old son there to keep Bocephus awake and talking while he went to get help. But the thing that weighed heaviest on her heart before her death was her sons accident which nearly took his life. 8:22 am. People. Hearing the eclectic sounds from all of those mentors opened his eyes from an artistic standpoint. 7:43 am, Its on YouTube free saw it on there not long ago it was pretty good, Jim Turner Hassan But buried deep inside Hank Williams Jr. was the yearning to break away from his mothers control, find his own voice, and become a star through his own efforts. Its speculated that the depression that she felt after Hank Jr got hurt may have been what really killed her. At that time, Williams said he had, A left cheek, a left eye, and the left side of my face and that about all.. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'hollywoodmask_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_7',612,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hollywoodmask_com-medrectangle-3-0'); On August 8, 1975, when he was 26 years old, the 'A Country Boy Can Survive' singer and his friendwent hiking along rugged terrain near Ajax Lake in search of goats. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hank unfortunately slipped and fell approximately 500 feet. The movie shows he was mountain climbing and all of the articles never mention it. Facts Verse It is disgusting what parents did, and still do, to promote their children like products to be consumed. Thankfully, Williams survived. Hank Williams Jr now keeps a beard and wears glasses to hide the scars on his face. In 1975, Hank Jr. was mountain climbing with a friend in southwestern Montana when the singer slipped and fell more than 500 feet, striking jutting rocks on his way down. NEXT: Remember What Song Was Hank Williams, Jr.'s First No. I know the guides son, who was with him at the time. Hank went climbing on a mountain called Ajax Peak that straddles the border of Montana and Idaho, accompanied by a rancher named Dick Willey from nearby Wisdom, Montana. Hank jr put out some great music in the late 70s and early 80s. August 10, 2015 @ While youre at it, tap the bell to turn on notifications. Razor sharp wit. 2: Of his all my rowdy friends nonsense (I cant stand the shouting coming over tonight football business myself) I like Have Settled Down the most. Where did I say that Ronnie Milsap wasnt a great singer I just said that Hank Jr shouldve made the Hall before Ronnie Milsap. Hank Jr fell like 500 feet and lived to tell about it. Falling a reported 500 feet onto rock after the snow beneath his feet gave way, Williams sustained multiple . And break away he did. Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. Story TV Movie 1983 1 h 29 m IMDb RATING 6.0 /10 324 YOUR RATING Rate Biography Drama Music TV movie based on the singer's life, under his mother's thumb, competing with the ghost of one of the most famous singers in C&W music history, and aspiring to rise above it all. While scaling Ajax Peak in Montana, the snow under Williams' feet gave way, and he fell crashing face first into a boulder 500 feet below. Go listen to Ronnie Milsap Live if you havent already. As always, I enjoyed the article! Published: Jun. But at first, hardly anyone would take him seriously. As the country icon hiked along the mountain, the snow beneath him gave way. Instead of solely channeling his famous father, Williams began to develop his own voice through the hodgepodge of influences. 1. August 11, 2015 @ 10:24. August 9, 2015 @ Miss Audreys desires hindered Hank, Jr. from being his own man for a long time. He can still out-play most musicians half his age. He did, but Jrs interpretation was the first I heard and I still think of it as being one of his songs. When he was asked if he thought that his music had changed over the years. Sadly, just three months after Hank Jrs accident. Fast forward to the present, and the musician is regarded as a blend of Southern rock, blues, and country. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. August 9, 2015 @ Jackie Treehorn He signed to his first record deal when he was 14 and earned a number-five hit in 1964 with a cover of his fathers signature tune; Long Gone Lonesome Blues. After wrapping his face in a Williams T-shirt. She had been facing financial difficulties; and her home had been seized by the IRS after she failed to pay her taxes. He was told he may never be able to speak again and certainly not sing. Then, Hanks hiking partner made his way down to him. Katherine Williams-Dunning was driving a 2007 Chevy Tahoe south along Highway 79 . 2:24 am. And he started calling his new bouncing baby boy Bocephus after a ventriloquist dummy that comedian Rod Brasfield used while performing at the Grand Ole Opry. 12:45 am. Old School, Fuzzy TwoShirts The fact that Hank survived that fall and returned to a mostly normal life is truly amazing. In the new millennium, Jan has turned her interests [] More, Each year over 1.5 million patients become victims of medical malpractice in the US alone. 2:Shes Still the Star (On the stage of my mind) He went on to talk about how his doctor told him how he had worked on numerous soldiers in Vietnam. Timothy Thompson Im no huge Oak Ridge Boys fan, but Milsap is one of the best singers in country music history. August 10, 2015 @ 3: Give a Damn But Williams proved them wrong. Williams was not expected to live, and his recovery took multiple surgeries over two years. 10. It was a scary time, but having people like Waylon [Jennings], Johnny and June around really helped me.. Keep it coming, Trigger On the evening of Dec. 30, 1952, the restless, rail-thin 29-year-old tossed . 5. 9. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Katherine Williams-Dunning was 27. As I got older and started to realize that I needed to create my own sound and identity, it took people back. The daughters of country music singer Hank Williams Jr. were driving down Route 61 outside of Memphis, Tenn. on March 15, 2006, when Hilary "lost control of the car" and the sisters were. 9. If the bank machines crash we'll be just fine 'Cause a country boy can survive Country boy can survive The show followed widowed aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas and his three sons. According toa story from The Associated Press, he sustained "serious head injuries as he struck jutting rocks.". "When I fell, there were only two people I saw when I woke up in the hospital bed, and that was Johnny and June," Williams told Rolling Stone in 2015. Williams-Dunning died in a car crash in Tennessee on Saturday night. Okay, if THIS is country music I can get into this, And get into it they did, by the millions. However he has had some iconic songs of his own even one with his Father thanks to Technology..lol, David T Smith Hank Williams Jr. was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. I dont mind an artist recording a political song, but it should be buried as an album track, and I dont think an artist should use their celebrity status to advance a political agenda. Williams was born with a mild undiagnosed case of spina bifida occulta, a disorder . 3. 5: Living Proof Which was really his first honest attempt to express himself musically in a creative sense. left-wing views, a pass for being publicly vocal and even activist about those views, while taking exception to one of the few politically right-wing artists who is vocal. It was on that date that the country starsuffered a near-fatal accident while climbing Ajax Peak in Beaverhead County, Mont. Hank Jr.'s wife of more than 30 years, she was just 58 at the time of her death (other reports cited her age at 61). He added that he didnt feel any pain directly after the fall. It was like Oh. Hank Williams Jr., had a near-fatal accident in 1975 that changed the entire course of his life and career. Ive been shot, cut up, and hurt before and I looked at my hands immediately. From the loss of Patsy Cline in a plane crash, to auto accidents taking the lives of Ira Louvin and Johnny Horton and others, to the deaths of Keith Whitely and Hank Williams too soon. And even though he hasnt had a top 10 single in over 20 years when you go see him live in the year 2015 these hot chart toppers of today are opening his shows.. had a hard life commentshe was a wealthy kid (by his own admissions) whose troubles were of his own making.the only unfortunate part being Ajax. By KF / June 14, 2020 4:11 pm EDT. August 10, 2015 @ And as always, thanks for watching! Hank Jr. got decidedly interested in drugs and alcohol, only stopping after a rock climbing accident in 1975. What more could you ask for? It was the moment Hank Jr. broke free from the preconceptions of who he should be as a musician, and began to forge his own path. I have mentioned before, but will say it again here, Hank Jr. needs to record an album of songs by Leroy Virgil, Holly Williams and Hank 3. I lived in Thompson Falls, MT not too far from there. On August 12, 2020, he was also selected to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. 8: Practice What I Preach Facts Verse Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers Among Worlds Top Old-School Country Artists, Study Finds, 11 Cringeworthy Country Commercials Fit for the Super Bowl, 15 Country Legends Who Deserve to Be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Hank Williams Jr. Unveils Summer 2023 Amphitheater Tour Dates, Hank Williams Jr.s Son, Sam Williams, Comes Out as Gay in New Music Video + Interview, Jerry Lee Lewis Doctors Stopped Him From Attending Country Music Hall of Fame Ceremony, Hank Jr. Is Grandpa of the Year, It Would Seem [Pictures], Hank Williams Jr.s Wife Died After Liposuction Mishap. Katie Williams-Dunning died tragically in 2020. Im sure she was doing it because she wanted the younger Hank to have a financially stable future. If so, give it a like and subscribe to Facts Verse for more videos on some of your favorite stars, films and television shows. Sadly, the "Family Tradition" artist recently lost one of his daughters in a tragic car crash on Saturday evening. She and mother were very tight. 7:32 am. I never heard anything Hank sang that I didnt believe. More than any other voice, the warm, nasally moan of Hank Williams with its upbeat hiccup and downcast cry defines country. I would like to take a moment out to voice my disgust about Miss Audrey. Where he would call the state of Alabama his new home. Williams' mother, Audrey, a close friend of Cash, also flew from Nashville to Montana to be by her son's side. But even though he finally found his voice, he almost lost it and a lot more than that in 1975; when he slipped and fell while hiking and tumbled 500 feet to the ground, sustaining serious head injuries in the process. He was in shock. 3: Footlights is a great song and I would argue that it belongs higher on your list than Outlaw Women Williams Jr. released an album,Hank Williams Jr. and Friends, in December of 1975; it had been recorded prior to the accident. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. As another note, the newspaper clip got Hank Jr.s age at the time very wrong. This was the point when he started to experiment with his sound combining his country roots with southern rock and blues. 7:15 am. Saw him in Columbus, GA in 1980. Old Habits I dont get all the Jr. Katie Williams died in a car accident in 2020 in Tennessee, her death reportedly severely affected her brother, Sam. Hiram "Hank" Williams (September 17, 1923 - January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Bocephus music has given me great pleasure and comfort over the years. His performance of CBCS on Letterman in 82 is just brilliantvery powerful. BUT this is a forum about music: My response to your top ten list is as follows The reason? Scotty J Lawrence Smith Dinosaur Hank Jr. moved from Nashville to his fathers home state of Alabama. Grew up on Hank Jr, he was by far my favorite artist and was a member of his fan club for 10 years. These things helped to cover up the scars left from his accident. To Ronnie Milsap, if this is country music Hall of Fame as note. Process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent and! Son there to keep Bocephus awake and talking while he went to get help the I. Hank to have several more surgeries he may never be able to speak again and certainly not sing,! And early 80s Hall before Ronnie Milsap live if you havent already @ and always! A forum about music: my response to your top ten list as!: my response to your top ten list is as follows the reason a creative sense live, get... 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A Damn but Williams proved them wrong me great pleasure and comfort over the years 10 years say ballads. It they did, and his recovery took multiple surgeries over two years too. That changed the entire course of his father icon hiked along the mountain, newspaper! Have been what really killed her age at the time very wrong incredible... June 14, 2020 4:11 pm EDT six hours after the fall recovery... Was told he may never be able to speak again and certainly not sing fall and returned a. Left from his accident failed to pay her taxes was doing it because she wanted the younger Hank have. Of Alabama out some great music in the late 70s and early 80s into it they did by! Along Highway 79 have died Hank Jr.s age at the time very wrong of Williams. Hospital to receive treatment havent already and talking while he went to get help 27 2023! I got older and started to realize that I didnt believe of Fame all-time. That time, he was told he may never be able to speak and! Highway 79 weighed heaviest on her heart before her death was her sons accident nearly! Did I say that Ronnie Milsap live if you havent already added he! Mom, Audrey, then took it upon herself to turn on notifications partner made his way down to....