Origin: Mount Olive, AL

Decades: 1940's and 1950's

Hank Williams is the father of contemporary country music. He was a superstar by the age of 25; he was dead at the age of 29. In those four short years, he established the rules for all the country performers who followed him and, in the process, much of popular music. Hank wrote a body of songs that became popular classics, and his direct, emotional lyrics and vocals became the standard for most popular performers. He lived a life as troubled and reckless as that depicted in his songs. Williams was born i... Read More

Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Van Morrison, Hank Williams III, Meat Puppets, Merle Haggard, The Mekons, Uncle Tupelo, Willie Nelson, Sammy Kershaw, Waylon Jennings, Steve Earle, B.J. Thomas, The Sir Douglas Quintet, The Blasters, The Mavericks, Buddy Holly, Del Shannon, Bill Anderson, Ferlin Husky, George Jones, Johnny Horton, Roger Miller, Charley Pride and Conway Twitty