Today in History: Country music legend Hank Williams died on this day in 1953 at the young age of 29 of heart failure brought about by prescription drug abuse and alcoholism. In his short life time he managed to become one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He recorded 35 singles that reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 that ranked number one ("Lovesick Blues", "Long Gone Lonesome Blues", "Why Don't You Love Me", "Moanin' the Blues", "Cold, Cold Heart", "Hey, Good Lookin'", "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)", "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive", "Kaw-Liga", "Your Cheatin' Heart", and "Take These Chains from My Heart").
Hank's actual first name is Hiram (a name common in Freemasonry).
More than 25,000 people attended the funeral of Hank Williams on Jan. 4, 1953. He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery Alabama, his home stste.
The car Hank Williams died in (a 1952 Baby Blue Cadillac) is on display at the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery.
I love this video of Hank Jr sharing a song with his dad. I like seeing generations reach across time to pay tribute, just like Natalie Cole did with her father in "Unforgettable."
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