Term Papers on Hank Williams Jr.

Term Paper Title	Hank Williams Jr.
# of Words	874
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	3.5

Hank Williams Jr.

Jerry Erath
Essay
4 December 12, 1996

     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 being the son of Hank
Williams, Hank got tired of being in his father's shadow.  In high school, known
as "Rockin' Randall," Hank played contemporary rock, however, that had to be
kept secret from all his traditional country fans.  He also liked to listen to
rhythm and blues, however, these types of music were looked down on by many in
Nashville.  Later in his career, Hank even released a couple of rock singles
under the name Bo Cephus on Verve Records, a subdivision of MGM.  The split
between what he wanted to do and what he was expected to do , along with his
long-term alcohol and drug abuse, developed into a downward spiral of his career
that led to a 1974 suicide attempt.
     In early 1975, Hank recorded "Hank Williams, Jr. and Friends," his first
true step to escaping his father's shadow and the past.  Although the album was
a success, MGM wanted him to return to the style that would keep his longtime
country fans happy.  An angry Hank told MGM that he was though with the company
("Bosephus Background," MGM).
     Hank then signed with Warner Brothers ("Bosephus Background," Albums)
and decided to take a vac...

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