Lonnie was part Choctaw Indian, he left Lilly when Hiram was seven. Lilly then moved the family to Georgiana, but unfortunately the new home was burned down one night leaving Lilly, Hiram and sister Irene with nothing but their night-clothes. The next day after finding a furnished room, and scrounging clothing from charity, Hiram had to start helping to keep the family by selling roasted peanuts on the street. Later Lilly came by a house rent free which she turned into a boarding house, but Hiram still had to go out and sell peanuts and shine shoes.
It was at this time that Hiram started to hang around with a black streetsinger named ‘Tee-Tot’ (real name Rufus Payne) who sometimes came to town. Lilly next moved the family to Greenville which also happened to be where Tee-Tot lived. Hiram got his first guitar at the age of twelve. Tee-Tot taught him how to play. They sang together on Greenville’s streets. Traders encouraged them to play outside their stores. Tee-Tot taught him how to work a crowd, and also taught him a song called “My buckets got a hole in it” which was later copyrighted by Hank Williams. At this time, although still at school, Hiram would sometimes get drunk with Tee-Tot or stay out all night.
Lilly decided the family would be better off in the city of Montgomery, where the schools would be better and there would be more choice of husband for her daughter. On 10th July 1937 they moved there. Hiram now decided to start calling himself Hank. At thirteen years old he was over six feet tall.
During the Christmas of 1937 Hank won fifteen dollars on a small talent show with an original song entitled “W.P.A. Blues. Lilly thought there might be something in this singing career and bought Hank a brand new Gibson guitar. By the age of 14 Hank had formed “Hank and Hezzy’s Drifting Cowboys”, including Freddy Beech, a nineteen year old fiddle player who was a professional musician and married with two children. Hank had pestered all the radio stations to let him sing. He landed a singing spot on Dad Crysell’s WSFA show where they called him “The singing Kid”. Next Hank got his own show and was making fifteen dollars a week. He decided to form a band and play weekend shows. The radio station started getting fan mail. School came second, Hank was an entertainer.
Hank’s first booking was at Georgiana High School on a Wednesday night. They later graduated to the honky tonks, starting off with Thigpen’s Log Cabin. Lilley moved again to a bigger boarding house on Cantoma street, and all of a sudden Hank’s band was staying there and Lilly was feeding them ...as an investment. Sometimes she would charge down to WSFA studios and drag Hank off air because he was drunk, then she would march him home and knock him around a little. Apart from little scenes like that , Hank thought he was doing pretty well.
At eighteen years old Hank already walked a bit hunched over and had started sitting slumped down almost on his shoulder blades. He was rejected by the Selective Service Doctor when World War II broke out. It didn’t surprise him. They took one look at his back and declared him unfit.
At nineteen years old he occasionally attended Sidney Lanier High school, in-between playing honky tonks and dances. He handed most of the money to Lilly. Already he had a reputation in the music business as a good draw, but a dangerous one because of his drinking.
One night Hank had a big fight with Lilly, he left and boarded a Greyhound for Mobile. He didn’t even take his guitar with him. He rented a furnished room and eventually got a job as a labourer with the Alabama Dry-dock and Ship building Company, later becoming a welder. Hank had met Audrey Mae Sheppard Guy at one of his shows by then, and was seeing her occasionally. She was already married and had a daughter named Lycrecia by her husband Erskine Guy who had gone into the army when the war started. Audrey had a reputation as a fast woman. Hank went back to Lilley’s boarding house in August 1944. He married Audrey on 15th December. She had filed for divorce ten days earlier but, under Alabama law she should have waited sixty days before re-marrying. Now Audrey and Lilly were out to control the income made by Hank Williams.
By mid 1945 Audrey had starting wanting to sing with Hank and even co-write some songs. Hank was writing a lot by now and was also drinking heavier. He was up at dawn for his early show on WSFA. Sometimes he would do three shows a day and play the honky tonks on the nights. His interests were now drinking, writing songs and buying guns. Sometimes he would write honky tonk songs, sometimes gospel songs. Ernest Tubb heard Hank and recommended him to the Grand Ole Opry, but they had heard about him and thought he was to much of a risk.
In 1946 Audrey furthered her own career by looking after Hank’s. After asking around she found that the best people to go to were Acuff-Rose in Nashville. On September 14th thats where they went. She took Hank in, sat him down, and he played three songs - “My love for you (has turned to hate)” “Six more miles to the graveyard” and “When God comes and gathers his jewels.” Fred Rose bought the songs for 10 dollars each. Hank signed a publishing contract. He got 3 cents for each copy of the sheet music sold, and 50% of royalties for records. December 1946 Sterling Records wanted to record a western band and a country singer. Fred Rose suggested The Oklahoma Wranglers with Hank Williams. December 11th Hank went to the recording session. Fred Rose, realising Hank’s potential, tried to get him on a major label. After Paul Cohen at Decca had turned him down Fred went to Frank Walker who was just starting MGM. Fred started working closely with Hank who began him “Pappy.” Freds next move was to get Hank on the Louisiana Hayride.
On 26th May 1948 Audrey was divorced from Hank. She’d left on February 7th and filed for divorce straight away. Hank quit drinking and worked really hard. He was on the radio shows every morning starting at six-o-clock. He phoned Audrey begging her to come back. She said ok, if he’d stop drinking and if she could sing with him.
Randall Hank Williams (Jnr) was born on 26th May 1949, exactly one year since Audrey’s divorce had been granted.
MGM released “Lovesick Blues” on 25th February 1949. It went straight to number one and stayed
there for 42 weeks ! The Opry couldn’t refuse him now. He first went on on Saturday night 11th
June 1949. “Lovesick Blues” was number one, and “Wedding Bells” was number nine. There were
3,574 people there that night. Hank sang “Lovesick Blues” and was called back for a record
breaking six encores.. Hank got a regular spot on the Opry. After his 3rd show Ernest Tubb
talked to Hank and told him how much he liked his songs. They got on well together.
Click here for a "pitcher" of Hank at his best
Hanks life got even more hectic now because as well as being on the road he had to make it back to the Opry to play every Saturday night. He started taking speed (Benzidrene) to help get through it all. He was also recording in the studio, doing radio shows, and writing songs.
On 9th August 1949 Audreys divorce from Hank was “Amended nunc pro tunc” which Hank considered as meaning it never happened. Audrey and Hank bought a three bedroomed brick house at 4916 Franklin Road, cost $40,000. Hank went back on the road while she furnished it. He was booked into Canada and then had an Opry tour of Germany in September. Audrey really went to town spending Hanks money on the house. Three bedrooms became seven, a two storey ballroom appeared, a bar, a wrought iron fence with the music notes from “Lovesick Blues” along it, and awnings on the windows inscribed with the letter ‘W’. Audrey’s fantasy room had white velvet walls, a white carpet, and a white bed with a heart shaped headboard. There were six and a half bathrooms with solid marble sinks and the house was painted gold flecked paint. Hank didn’t like it, but it kept Audrey from pestering to go on stage with him. Audrey recorded a couple of 78’s on Decca thanks to Hank and Fred. One had two songs written by Audrey - “My tight wad daddy” and “I like that kind”. They were awful, but she liked them and put them on the wall in the den next to Hanks records.
While in hospital once, on a drying out session, Hank met Father Harold Purcell. They got on well together and vowed to keep in touch. Hank co-wrote “Long gone lonesome blues” and “I’ve been down that road before” with Vic McAlpin, (a song writer that Hank knew) and then bought out McAlpin for $500 per song. The basics of the song “I’m so lonesome I could cry” was sold to Hank by Paul Gilley, who also wrote “Cold, cold heart”.
Jim Denny, the Opry manager, once had to fetch Hank back from Baltimore to Nashville because the band couldn’t handle him. He couldn’t get on stage, could not get out of bed, and could barely talk. Denny, after phoneing Audrey, had Hank committed to the hospital / sanitorium in Madison to dry out. Whilst in there he bribed an attenent to bring him whiskey. He was also on Chloral Hydrate, Nembutal and Morphine. Hank was one of Nudie’s first customers. He bought many suits off him, mostly around $500 each. Nudie once sent Hank some boots as a gift.
According to Billboard Hank Williams grossed over $400,000 in the eight months prior to
8th April 1950. His box office statistics are impressive even by today’s standards:
10,500 at Kansas City from Jan 29th to Feb 2nd 1950.
16,750 at St Louis June 2nd to 8th 1950.
18,500 at Amarillo September 19th to 22nd 1950.
13,600 at one show in Toledo, December 1950.
16,500 at Indianapolis, New Years Eve 1951.
Hank had a horse named Hi Life and he liked to ride. Sometimes he would go off to a lake cabin at Camp Kowaliga, Alabama for a day or two. The first time Hank took a shot at Audrey he was too drunk to tell whether he hit or missed. He ran out and flew to Los Angeles to Tex Williams. Hank told Tex that he had killed Audrey. They phoned home and Audrey , obviously alive, answered. Tex said that Audrey seemed alright, and Hank replied “Well, I’ll just have to go back and kill her.” He flew back but Audrey was hiding out at Mother Maybelle Carters house, and so he forgot about it ! Often Hank would fall asleep and a cigarette would burn down to his lips or fingers.... and he wouldn’t feel the pain. Some band members were usually on hand to save him from to much damage. Hank would travel with a bottle of pills in one pocket, a loaded .38 in the other and his boots lined with miniature whiskey bottles.
At 1pm 21st May 1951 Hank was addmitted to North Louisiana Sanitarium where he was examined in room 215 by Dr G.H.Cassity. Hank was in bad shape, doped up and drunk. His temperature was 99.2º. An x-ray report said he had a Spina Bifida Occulta of the first sacral segment of the lower spine. May 24th he was discharged. Dr Cassity wrote “Completely cleaned up but complaining of back pain.” 15th July 1951 was “Hank Williams Day” in Montgomery. Whilst Hank was there he went to visit Father Purcell and during their talks he pledged to donate $400 a month to the Catholic Orphanage.
While on a tour, sponsored by Hadocol in August 1951, Bob Hope refused to follow Hank on stage. 1951 “Jambalaya” was co-wrote by Hank with Moon Mulican. Hank once published a small book titled “Hank Williams tells how to write Folk and Western music to sell.” Audrey pressured Hank to open a shop near Ernie Tubbs store. It was a clothing store called “Hank and Audrey’s Coral.” Hank now wore a back brace and sometimes walked with a cane. In Chattanooga a maid found him putting a needle into his arm. In Birmingham he used a hotels pictures (he pronounced it “pitchers”) for target practice. Police found a fifteen year old girl in his room, stripping for him while he played guitar. Sometimes he would tell police his name was Herman. P. Willis or George Morgan. He’d sing Morgans hit “Candy Kisses” to prove who he was. Morgan was furious to find he was acquiring a police record..........but he was scared of Hank ! 10th January 1952 Audrey filed for separate maintainance. She froze Hanks income and assets. He signed the final divorce decree on 29th May 1952.
Hank went to live with Ray Price on Natchez Trace. It didn’t last long. Ray couldn’t cope with the strain of living with Hank, (the parties, guns and young girls) and so Ray moved out. One night in the Opry Hank met Billie Jean Jones, she was with Faron Young but Hank took her from him. She was seperated from her husband whom she had a daughter by. 11th August 1952 Hank was fired from the Opry. Later Pappy got him back on the Hayride. In Shreveport Hank went to see Father Purcell again. He donated $1000 towards a new hospital, and agreed to do a charity tour. Oaklahoma City, September 1952. Hank had just learned that Father Purcell had died and he felt a great loss. Hank was taking various drugs, Ups, Downs and Morphine, and was in no shape to play.for an audience. A doctor was sent for. Dr Toby Marshall. In a flash Hank was up on his feet and ready to play, although he wouldn’t go on ‘til he was introduced as Herman. P. Willis. Dr Marshall was now Hanks personal physician for $300 a week. Dr Toby Marshall was really Horace. R. Marshall. He’d been in San Quinton for armed robbery, and in McAlcester prison for forgery. He had bought a Diploma for $35 from the “Chicago School of Applied Science” and talked a real doctor into supplying him with blank prescriptions.
18th October 1952 Hank married Billie Jean secretly.....just in case anyone tried to stop the two stage weddings which were arranged for the 19th. Fourteen thousand people attended each of these weddings cum concerts at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium. Billie Jeans divorce from her present husband (Harrison Holland Eshlimar) was not final ! 31st October 1952 Hank was addmitted to North Louisiana Sanitorium. 27th November he was addmitted again.
By 11th December he was in atrocious physical condition. Dr J.E.Williams diagnosed Acute Alcoholism plus a Mild Contusion of the right hand. He was also incontinent. At 2.40pm December 11th Hank stormed out of the Sanitarium (or “Hut” as he called it). At 4.30pm a police officer answered a complaint about a drunk wandering around downtown. Officer H.H.Pitman frisked him and found a .38 pistol, and so he put the handcuffs on and took him to jail. They finally sorted things out and delivered Hank back to the Sanitarium at 8pm. By December 13th Hank was so tranquil he was discharged and went straight back on the road...although the shows wern’t up to much. On stage he would sometimes become incoherent and beligerent. Lilley went on a short tour of Texas with him and was seen tucking gate receipts (which should have gone to Hank)into her purse. At the Skyline Club in Austin on December 19th Hank sang some of his religious songs,which was a thing he wouldn’t normally do on the road.
At this time “Jambalaya” was No1. Lilly and Dr Toby Marshall were always in the background. Billie Jean hated both of them. Sometimes she would walk in to find Lilly sticking a needle into Hanks arm...she would say it was vitamins ! Tuesday afternoon 30th December 1952 Hank flew out of Montgomery bound for Charleston. Bad weather grounded his flight in Knoxville. He checked in to the Andrew Johnson Hotel, called lilly and told her to send a driver with his car. Then he called Dr Toby and asked him to find him a doctor in Knoxville. When Toby called back on Wednesday evening 17 year old Charles Carr answered the phone, he had driven Hanks Cadillac up from Montgomery. Hank was barely concious, he had just had two morphine injections. When Carr put him into the cadillac Hank had Chloralhydrate tablets, a pint of vodka, and a gun in his jacket pockets. Hank woke up in the car and washed down a tablet with some vodka. Later highway patrol man Swann Kitts pulled the vehicle over for speeding. Carr paid the $25 fine in Rutledge and carried on with the journey. At 5.30 am, Carr stopped to ask his way at Glenn Burdettes sevice station in Oak Hill, West Virginia. Hank looked very still, Carr felt his hand and it was cold.Glen Burdette took one look at Hank and called the police. Patrolman Howard Jamey answered the call.
There was a piece of paper in the corpse’s right hand which read :
“We met, we lived and dear we loved, then comes that fatal day,
the love that felt so dear fades far away.
Tonight love hathe one alone and lonesome, all that I could sing,
I you you [sic] still and always will,
but thats the poison we have to pay.”
Carr later said they’d spent Tuesday night at a Birmingham hotel. They’d stopped at Fort Payne,Alabama where Hank bought some whiskey. Stopped at a diner near Chatanooga and Hank tipped the waiter $50. They’d also boarded a plane in Knoxville, but had to return because of bad weather. Hank got a shot of Vitamin B-6 to cure his hiccups. They stopped at a coffee shop where Hank played Tony Bennet’s version of “Cold, cold heart” on the jukebox....Back in the car Hank sang “Jambalaya” and Red Foley’s “Midnight”.....Hanks last words were: “Well, I’m gonna give ole Red a break and do one of his songs.” There had been another man in the car with Hank, he told Patrolman Jamey his name was Donald Surface and he was a relief driver that Carr had picked up in Bluefield. Donald Surface then vanished.
January 4th 1953. A Cadillac hearse, which Montgomery had donated free for the funeral services, took Hanks body to the city auditorium. All roads into Mongomery were completely choked with trafic. There were at least 20,000 mourners. Two local radio stations broadcast the service. Hank left several stage costume suits, mostly valued at around $300 to $450 including one white gaberdine with blue music notes valued at $500.
His musical instruments were: 1 Martin D18 guitar with pearl inlay and case $322.50 1 Gibson SJ with case $162.00 1 Martin D28 with case $258.00 His guns were: Colt .45 Frontier $125.00 Colt .44 Frontier $125.00 Smith & Wesson .45 $_75.00 Colt .45 $_75.00 German Luger $_75.00 16 gauge, single barrel shotgun $100.00 16 gauge Winchester pump action $100.00 16 gauge Remington automatic $100.00In the First National Bank of Montgomery Hank had on deposit $4,394.80 Within two months of Hanks death, Billie Jean and Audrey were both out on the road singing as “Mrs Hank Williams.” In 1975 Billie Jean was finally adjudged to have been Hanks wife at the time of his death.
March 1953 “Dr” Toby Marshall was sent back to prison. The police had swooped on his appartment to arrest him and seize files and barbiturates.
