Hank Williams family tradition
I'm a different breed. I listen to rap, rock, and country. I'm the only child of my mother and father together but I do have a brother and sister that I love very much. Although each of us is of different ethnic origins we were all raised together for most of our childhood. Having a white brother and being half Mexican while having a half black sister, you get a different view of life.
But this isn't about me. This is about an iconic family. While many families just try to make it in this world others are ascending even after their previous generations had already reached ridiculous heights. One of these families is the 3 Hanks. Hank Williams Sr., Jr., and even the third.
Let's start with Hank Williams Sr. Many musicians have covered his songs and credit him with being a country western music pioneer. Although many people call it country I really prefer the western style. It mostly started with Hank Williams Sr. With songs like I'm so lonesome I can cry, Your cheatin' heart, Hey, Good Lookin, and I'll never get out of this world alive. An amazing song writer and performer he died at 29 years old in 1953. 1953! I've gone days where his songs were just stuck in my head. Like his song Your cheating' heart, will tell on you. The lyrics just stick in your head and his skills as a song writer in the 30's 40's and 50's amaze me. For a simple man like me it fascinates me. I have always been pretty good at many things but exceptional at nothing. I love music but can't sing, dance, play an instrument. I love to write but can't write anything that will be considered a classic. I love sports but was pretty good at a few sports but was a superstar at nothing. So, for me I appreciate extreme talent. Hank Williams Sr. was a talent similar to a few others that also passed early. His song writing has been copied and his family tradition has been carried on, starting with his son Hank Williams Jr.
Hank Williams Jr. is my favorite of the Hanks. While they're all talented, Hank Jr. writes songs I can relate too. Not to mention the audio recordings of the 30's-50's were not the same quality as we have now. But the song writing is what does it for me. From A Country Boy Can Survive, Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound, All My Rowdy Friends have settled down, and my favorite Family tradition. While Hank Sr's songs stick in my head, Hank Williams Jr. can sometimes possess my heart. Sitting in the shower with Pandora playing Family Tradition comes on and I can't help but be happy. It reminds me of my dad/uncle Dennis and my roots of living off the land. Just like "I have loved some ladies, and I have loved Jim Beam. And they both tried to kill me, in 1973". I mean come on people that shit's classic. Even though he was the son of a pioneer icon and he could have been content and lived off of that success like many second generation success stories, instead he paved his own path and may have reached a higher status than his father. He never forgets his father though. Often mentioning him in songs he seems to stay grounded and true to his country ways. "Don't you play I'm So lonesome I can Cry, cause I'll get all balled up inside, and I'll get whiskey bent and hell bound". I know, I see things that others don't believe are big deals. Maybe I'm nuts but I just feel I appreciate. I actually heard of Hank Williams Jr. first even though I had heard Hank Williams Sr. songs. Both have classic songs but Hank Williams Jr. has such a story. Born in May of 1959 he wasn't even 4 years old when his father Hank Sr. died. That in itself could push a kid to the bad path in life. But instead, he carried the legacy with him and created a new one.
Hank Williams III is the latest in the Hank legacy. Although his music is different than his dad's and his grandfather's he's still very talented. Just like Jr. sings about his daddy's music and his ain't exactly the same the same is true with Jr.'s son. I first saw Hank the third on the Netflix show the Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia. He was sort of rapping while someone played the harmonica. It was different than I had ever heard but he has talent for sure. I just can't understand it. His style to me is more like his grandfather's than his father's but still quality. Most son's can't even stay healthy after their father reached exceptional heights. This is 3 generations of bad asses. Jr. and the third both respect the legacy and the "family tradition". If you listen to the song "Country Heroes" you'll hear so much of his granddaddy. I just can't help but be impressed. Hank the third is a child of a different generation and I haven't had the chance to indulge in all of his music I've been able to enjoy quite a few of his songs. It puts me in awe. How he sings about Waylon Jennings and Hank and his Country heroes. I just get so impressed. I just couldn't help but write about it.
If you get a chance just listen to a few songs from each of them. From Hank Williams Sr. to the third I can't help but believe I've experience greatness and something special. Their talents are undeniable and true. I so appreciate the music that they have brought to us and lessons about life. No matter the mountain you have to climb to achieve close to the greatness of the previous generation just have faith and do your thing. Coming from a man that has never accomplished anything great. I don't get upset about it, I just continue try. I will never accomplish anything close to one of the Hank's but i can sure try. But I just wanted to pay tribute to a family that has provided me with countless hours of entertainment, joy, and frustration from trying to get their songs out of my head.
Thank you Hanks, I appreciate your efforts. To Hank Williams Jr., I often wonder what you think. How it was growing up without your father who at the time was revered like a founder of a country. I applaud you for not only measuring up but blazing your own trail. And to Hank the 3rd, don't ever back down. While some might not understand your personal style it is still something unique that people get. Mixing in some rock, country, western, rap, and some traditional Hank Sr. Much love my brothers and I hope to see Hank Jr. this year on his latest tour.
But this isn't about me. This is about an iconic family. While many families just try to make it in this world others are ascending even after their previous generations had already reached ridiculous heights. One of these families is the 3 Hanks. Hank Williams Sr., Jr., and even the third.
Let's start with Hank Williams Sr. Many musicians have covered his songs and credit him with being a country western music pioneer. Although many people call it country I really prefer the western style. It mostly started with Hank Williams Sr. With songs like I'm so lonesome I can cry, Your cheatin' heart, Hey, Good Lookin, and I'll never get out of this world alive. An amazing song writer and performer he died at 29 years old in 1953. 1953! I've gone days where his songs were just stuck in my head. Like his song Your cheating' heart, will tell on you. The lyrics just stick in your head and his skills as a song writer in the 30's 40's and 50's amaze me. For a simple man like me it fascinates me. I have always been pretty good at many things but exceptional at nothing. I love music but can't sing, dance, play an instrument. I love to write but can't write anything that will be considered a classic. I love sports but was pretty good at a few sports but was a superstar at nothing. So, for me I appreciate extreme talent. Hank Williams Sr. was a talent similar to a few others that also passed early. His song writing has been copied and his family tradition has been carried on, starting with his son Hank Williams Jr.
Hank Williams Jr. is my favorite of the Hanks. While they're all talented, Hank Jr. writes songs I can relate too. Not to mention the audio recordings of the 30's-50's were not the same quality as we have now. But the song writing is what does it for me. From A Country Boy Can Survive, Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound, All My Rowdy Friends have settled down, and my favorite Family tradition. While Hank Sr's songs stick in my head, Hank Williams Jr. can sometimes possess my heart. Sitting in the shower with Pandora playing Family Tradition comes on and I can't help but be happy. It reminds me of my dad/uncle Dennis and my roots of living off the land. Just like "I have loved some ladies, and I have loved Jim Beam. And they both tried to kill me, in 1973". I mean come on people that shit's classic. Even though he was the son of a pioneer icon and he could have been content and lived off of that success like many second generation success stories, instead he paved his own path and may have reached a higher status than his father. He never forgets his father though. Often mentioning him in songs he seems to stay grounded and true to his country ways. "Don't you play I'm So lonesome I can Cry, cause I'll get all balled up inside, and I'll get whiskey bent and hell bound". I know, I see things that others don't believe are big deals. Maybe I'm nuts but I just feel I appreciate. I actually heard of Hank Williams Jr. first even though I had heard Hank Williams Sr. songs. Both have classic songs but Hank Williams Jr. has such a story. Born in May of 1959 he wasn't even 4 years old when his father Hank Sr. died. That in itself could push a kid to the bad path in life. But instead, he carried the legacy with him and created a new one.
Hank Williams III is the latest in the Hank legacy. Although his music is different than his dad's and his grandfather's he's still very talented. Just like Jr. sings about his daddy's music and his ain't exactly the same the same is true with Jr.'s son. I first saw Hank the third on the Netflix show the Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia. He was sort of rapping while someone played the harmonica. It was different than I had ever heard but he has talent for sure. I just can't understand it. His style to me is more like his grandfather's than his father's but still quality. Most son's can't even stay healthy after their father reached exceptional heights. This is 3 generations of bad asses. Jr. and the third both respect the legacy and the "family tradition". If you listen to the song "Country Heroes" you'll hear so much of his granddaddy. I just can't help but be impressed. Hank the third is a child of a different generation and I haven't had the chance to indulge in all of his music I've been able to enjoy quite a few of his songs. It puts me in awe. How he sings about Waylon Jennings and Hank and his Country heroes. I just get so impressed. I just couldn't help but write about it.
If you get a chance just listen to a few songs from each of them. From Hank Williams Sr. to the third I can't help but believe I've experience greatness and something special. Their talents are undeniable and true. I so appreciate the music that they have brought to us and lessons about life. No matter the mountain you have to climb to achieve close to the greatness of the previous generation just have faith and do your thing. Coming from a man that has never accomplished anything great. I don't get upset about it, I just continue try. I will never accomplish anything close to one of the Hank's but i can sure try. But I just wanted to pay tribute to a family that has provided me with countless hours of entertainment, joy, and frustration from trying to get their songs out of my head.
Thank you Hanks, I appreciate your efforts. To Hank Williams Jr., I often wonder what you think. How it was growing up without your father who at the time was revered like a founder of a country. I applaud you for not only measuring up but blazing your own trail. And to Hank the 3rd, don't ever back down. While some might not understand your personal style it is still something unique that people get. Mixing in some rock, country, western, rap, and some traditional Hank Sr. Much love my brothers and I hope to see Hank Jr. this year on his latest tour.
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