Williams, Hank (1923–1953)

US country singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was the author of dozens of country standards and one of the originators of modern country music. His songs are characteristically mournful and blues-influenced, like ‘Your Cheatin' Heart’ (1953), but also include the uptempo ‘Jambalaya’ (1952) and the proto-rockabilly ‘Hey, Good-Lookin'’ (1951).

Williams was born in Alabama, learned guitar from a black street singer, and formed his band the Drifting Cowboys in 1937. Their sparse honky-tonk (dance-hall) sound featured fiddle and steel guitar. ‘Lovesick Blues’ (1949), which Williams did not write, was his first number-one country hit and he quickly became the genre's biggest star. He is credited with more than 100 songs, including ‘Move It On Over’ (1947), ‘I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry’ (1949), ‘Why Don't You Love Me’ (1950), ‘You Win Again’ (1952), ‘Kaw-Liga’ (1952), and ‘I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive’ (a posthumous hit in 1953).