—The Concert II – Hank Williams Jr.—
—Part I – Hank Williams Sr.—
Hank Williams Sr. is one of Country Music’s biggest Stars—a legend in his own right.
He was brilliant and way ahead of his time.
I feel a closeness to the man.
That’s because he and I have something in common—something that most of you do not know about him—something that he and I can relate to. Hank Williams Sr. was born with Spina Bifida.
Yes.
His type of Spina Bifida was not as severe as other types. It was even undiagnosed at birth.
He had Spina Bifida Occulta.
The pain caused by his Spina Bifida is said to be the reason for his alcohol and painkiller abuse.
Hank Sr. obviously could do some things I couldn’t do.
After all, he had two children: A son named Hank Williams Jr. and a daughter named Jett Williams.
—Part II – Hank Williams Jr.—
As a child, Hank Williams Jr. was constantly around other performers such as Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Hank Jr. said they would come to his house and play.
Jerry Lewis showed “Hank” the Piano. Earl Scruggs taught him the Banjo.
Hank’s momma was grooming him to be a star.
June Carter Cash was Hank Jr.s Godmother.
Hank Williams Jr. had to overcome his daddy’s shadow.
And his daddy cast a long shadow.
By age 8, Hank Jr. was performing live on Stage. At 11, he played The Grand Ole Opry. He says by age 15, he was stealing the show.
But “The Show” was Hank Jr. playing his dad’s songs—nothing that Hank Jr. had written himself.
And the fans expected Hank Jr. to sing his daddy’s songs. And sing them exactly as his daddy sang them.
Hank Jr. grew to hate performing his dad’s songs. He wanted to get out of his daddy’s shadow and be his own man, a Country Music Star in his own right.
And that is a “nutshell” version. Very Nutshell. I didn’t even mention his fall from Mountain Climbing that nearly killed him.
Tonight, 4/5/2024, I am at the BJCC to see Hank Williams Jr. perform.
—Perform his hit songs.
I’ve seen Hank Jr. three other times.
All three were at Oak Mountain Amphitheater, which is an outdoor venue.
Once, he came with Charlie Daniels; the other two times, he was with Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Tonight, with Diet Coke in hand, I eagerly awaited to see the show.
The BJCC was packed.
The house lights lowered, and the crowd erupted in cheer.
Smartphones light up the arena.
Hank Williams Jr. takes the Stage and is met with a standing ovation from many fans.
Wearing his ICON Hat, he greets the crowd.
The applause is loud.
It would be a four-hour show if he were to perform all of his Hits.
I read that each show lasts an hour and a half to two hours.
He sang the greatest of his hits and several of his daddy’s songs.
He played many instruments that I did not know he played.
When playing the Fiddle, he spoke of hanging around with Charlie Daniels.
When he sat at the Piano, he spoke of Jerry Lee Lewis coming to teach him to play the Piano.
He also played the Harmonica and, of course, the guitar.
Hank spent at least thirty minutes alone on Stage, playing solo with his acoustic guitar.
That’s when he played such songs as “A Country Boy Can Survive.”
The place went wild when he began strumming that very familiar tune.
During the show, Hank mentioned that it was Turkey season. He also said that he was heading to “L.A.” – “Lower Alabama”—to hunt turkeys after he finished the show.
And when the show’s end approached, the band played him off Stage.
He waved to the fans.
And Hank had the biggest smile as he headed off the Stage.
The band finished three to five minutes later, and the House Lights came on.
The arena was loud with applause.
And according to his Tour Schedule, he doesn’t perform again until April 20th. This show was on April 5th.
—I truly believe he scheduled a lot of time for Turkey Hunting in “L.A..”
The whole night was great.—from meeting and hanging out with Unc!’s friends and telling some stories to eating hot Wings and listening to good music.
It’s a night I will never forget.
—Love you, Unc! Thanks for including me.
And I Love you, the Reader.
–Lynn
