From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sun May 26, 2002  2:16 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Hank Williams Jr
 
HANK WILLIAMS, JR (By Shaun Mather)

Born Randall Hank Williams, Junior, 26 May 1949, Shreveport, Louisiana

Being the off-spring of a famous father doesn't make it easy to carve out a
living in country music, witness John Carter Cash or Byron Whitman for
embarrassing/desperate examples. You need a high quantity of resolve, thick
skin and talent to make it on your own terms. Your own sound is another
necessity. After years of being pushed into the limelight by his adorable
mother Miss Audrey, covering his daddy's songs, Hank found solace in drugs
and booze and moved to Alabama to dry out and find himself. As well as
finding himself, he found the country rock sounds of Charlie Daniels and
Marshall Tucker, and soon changed his own sound. He recorded Hank Williams
Jnr & Friends in this rockier vein and finally became his own man. Before
he could take advantage, he fell down a Montana mountain and spent two years
recovering. With a new sound, label and face he made his comeback in 1977
and in the next ten years enjoyed 29 Top 10 hits like Family Tradition, Whiskey
Bent And Hell Bound, Texas Women and All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled
Down). He proudly accepted his role of leader of the red-neck association
and although the hits have now dried up he still plays to sold-out rowdy crowds.

Recommended listening:
Greatest Hits Vols 1, 2 & 3 - Warner
Official website: http://www.hankjr.com