Friends of country artist Luke Bell are raising concerns after he went missing over a week ago on Saturday, August 20th near 4th Ave. in Tucson, Arizona. Bell hasn’t been seen or heard from since. There is a possibility he is still in the area, or he could have left the Tucson area and Arizona entirely.
On August 11th, 1952—70 years ago today—one of the most notorious moments in country music history occurred. The original King of Country Music, and the genre’s first undisputed superstar, Hank Williams, was unceremoniously fired from the institution that he helped bring to prominence.
Mary Jane Thomas, who Hank Williams Jr. married in 1990, died due to complications of a plastic surgery procedure, according to the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s autopsy report. The official cause of death was ruled as “Pneumothorax due to perforated parietal pleura during liposuction…”
It’s also just really damn cool that Hank Jr. took of his time to do this instead of releasing yet another album of semi-original late career stuff that country radio wouldn’t play, and his fans would quickly forget in favor of his classic stuff anyway. So have a little fun. Make a passion project.
A recent petition launched to coincide with Freddy Fender’s birthday, and subsequent media reporting, has stimulated a healthy amount of discussion about the prospects for Freddy Fender being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
You can find a detailed list of all the confirmed album releases for the 2nd half of 2022 below, some specific albums from each release week that you should make sure to not overlook, and the always-exciting ‘Rumor Mill’ where intelligence is gathered on upcoming releases.
In early February, Sam Williams had the music and entertainment world in a stir after a series of social media posts implied that he was in a restrictive conservatorship under the repressive thumb of his father Hank Williams Jr., and half-sister Holly Williams.
Those who know Hank Williams Jr., they know that he’s always considered the blues as the ultimate foundation to his sound, not dissimilar to his famous father, who was taught to play guitar by a local blues performer named Rufus “Tee-Tot” Payne.
The wife of Country Music Hall of Famer Hank Williams Jr. died unexpectedly in Jupiter, Florida on Tuesday, March 22nd, according to the family. Mary Jane Thomas, who Hank Williams Jr. married in 1990, was at the Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa.
Hank Jr. doesn’t play a whole lot of live engagements these days. He’d rather be in a deer blind or on a turkey shoot, or beside a body of water with a pole in his hand. But he will be will be getting after it this summer, and rest assured these tickets will be sought after.
The bloodlines of Jennings and Williams are running together once again as the great grandson of Hank Williams, grandson of Hank Jr., and the son of Hank Williams III has signed with the record label of the son of Waylon Jennings, Black Country Rock.
Singer, songwriter, and 3rd generation performer Sam Williams says he’s in a restrictive conservatorship, and wants out. Signed to a major label deal with Mercury Nashville, Sam Williams is the son of Hank Williams Jr. from his marriage to Mary Jane Thomas.
Hank Williams Jr. was finally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on November 21st, 2021, and unfortunately, if you weren’t there in person, you weren’t able to see it for yourself. We are able to part and piece together what Hank Jr. said in his acceptance speech though.
Where the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and really, most all Halls of Fame throughout American culture get it much more right than the Country Music Hall of Fame is how they use their nomination and induction process as a way to promote their institutions and engage the public.
On this night in 1951 when Hank found the time to record the demo for “Tear In My Beer,” and 40 years later when it became a big hit in country, it proved that a good song with a simple sentiment can often withstand the ultimate test of time, and be entered into eternal cultural relevance.
Could it be that the most important and influential bloodline in country music history actually has a lost branch? Country History X Episode #11 delves into this complicated and convoluted story, while now a 4th generation of performers have emerged looking to carry on Hank’s name.
Many who’ve made the side trip off of Interstate 10 down Hwy 90 will tell you the town of Alpine just east of Marfa is just as cool, if not more, and if for no other reason than the great murals that can be found in the town of 6,000. And recently, a new mural was unveiled.
The son of Hank Williams Jr. has been kicking around the music industry for a few years now, dabbling with some traditional country stuff, then moving in a much more contemporary direction, but overall just seeming to be trying to find himself. Don’t expect a chip off the old block.
It’s been a very long time coming. But the Country Music Hall of Fame has finally announced when they will reveal the newest inductees. Though country fans got used to Hall of Fame inductees being announced in the spring most every year in recent memory, due to COVID-19…
40 years ago this week, one could make the case Hank Williams Jr. finally and forever extricated himself from the elongated shadow his father’s legacy cast, and became his own man, his own performer, and one that would impact country music on a major scale.
It’s crazy how things sometimes work out, making it hard to doubt divine intervention. Marty Stuart selected the song “Skip a Rope” for his latest installment, releasing it on Tuesday, May 25th. Lo and behold, the next day we find out that the song’s writer has passed away.
Well well well. If you want to get aroused about the impending musical possibilities upcoming now that COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out en masse and it appears at least some semblance of live music normalcy is in the offing, take a look at what transpired this weekend.
There are many incredibly important legacy families to the country music lineage, from the Carter’s to the Cash’s. But arguably no crop of performers have offered more entertainment, influence, intrigue, and tragedy than the family tree that sprouts from the loins of Hank Williams.
There’s a new performer on the way, and he’s one that has a legitimate claim to arguably the most important bloodline in country music history. That’s right, the son of Hank Williams III is getting ready to emerge, and to do so under the moniker “IV.”