Hank Williams, Jr
Induction Year: 2007
Birth Name: Randall Hank Williams, Jr.
Birth Date: May 26, 1949
Place of Birth: Shreveport, LA
Biography
Though he began his career in the shadow of his legendary father, Hank Williams Jr. emerged as a formidable singer-songwriter in his own right with 1960s hits such as “It’s All Over But The Crying” and “Cajun Baby.” With 1979’s “Family Tradition,” he broke with the Nashville mainstream by adopting a rebel image and writing/recording in a style incorporating his Blues and Southern Rock influences. The results were millions in records sold, 42 Top-10 hits and two CMA Entertainer of the Year honors. He holds 20 BMI Awards for his songwriting prowess and is noteworthy in that the vast majority of his songs are written solo. He wrote what is arguably the most-heard Country song of modern times, “Are You Ready For Some Football?,” heard nationally as the theme song of ABC’s Monday Night Football telecasts since 1989. The 2003 tribute CD The Songs of Hank Williams Jr. featured his compositions being sung by Montgomery Gentry, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Georgia Satellites, .38 Special and others.
Discography / Career Highlights
Selected Songs:
“Standing in the Shadows” - Hank Williams Jr., 1966 (#5)
“I Was With Red Foley (The Night He Passed Away)” - Luke The Drifter, Jr., 1968 (#39)
“I Wouldn’t Change A Thing About You (But Your Name)” - Hank Williams Jr., 1968 (#31)
“It’s All Over But The Crying” - Hank Williams Jr., 1968 (#3)
“The Old Ryman” - Hank Williams Jr., 1968 (#51)
“Cajun Baby” Hank Williams Jr., 1969 (#3) • Doug Kershaw - Hank Williams Jr., 1988 (#52) • Commander Cody, 1975 • Doug Kershaw, 1995
“I’d Rather Be Gone” - Hank Williams Jr., 1969 (#4)
“I Walked Out On Heaven” - Hank Williams Jr., 1970 (#12)
“It Don’t Take But One Mistake” - Luke The Drifter, Jr., 1970 (#36)
“Removing The Shadow” - Hank Williams, Jr. - Lois Johnson, 1970 (#23)
“Something To Think About” - Luke The Drifter, Jr., 1970 (#36)
“After All They All Used To Belong To Me” - Hank Williams Jr., 1971 (#18)
“Getting Soft On You” - Faron Young, 1971
“The Last Love Song” - Hank Williams Jr., 1973 (#4)
“Angels Are Hard To Find” Hank Williams Jr., 1974 (#19) • Hank Williams Jr., 1991 (#59)
“Stoned At The Jukebox” Hank Williams Jr., 1975 (#19) • Katy Moffat, 1999
“The Same Old Story” - Hank Williams Jr., 1975 (#29)
“Where He’s Going, I’ve Already Been” - Hank Williams Jr., 1975 (#26)
“Feelin’ Better” - Hank Williams Jr., 1978 (#38)
“Living Proof” - Hank Williams Jr., 1976 (#38)
“Family Tradition” Hank Williams Jr., 1979 (#4) • Cracker, 2003 • Aaron Tippin, 2003
“Whiskey Bent And Hell Bound” Hank Williams Jr., 1979 (#2) • Dan Baird, 2003
“I Don’t Have Any More Love Songs” - Merle Haggard, 1980
“Old Habits” Hank Williams Jr., 1980 (#6) • Andy Griggs, 2003 • Travis Tritt, 2004
“Women I’ve Never Had” Hank Williams Jr., 1980 (#5) • Montgomery Gentry, 2003
“The Blues Man” Hank Williams Jr., 1980 • Alan Jackson, 2000 (#37) • George Jones, 2005
“All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight” Hank Williams Jr., 1984 (#10) • Trick Pony, 2003
“All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down” Hank Williams Jr., 1981 (#1) • Marshall Tucker Band, 2003
“Are You Ready For Some Football?” - Hank Williams Jr., 1989 — Monday Night Football theme since 1989
“Dixie On My Mind” - Hank Williams Jr., 1981 (#1)
“Texas Women” Hank Williams Jr., 1981 (#1) • Alan Jackson, 2007
“A Country Boy Can Survive” Hank Williams Jr., 1982 (#2 Country / #75 Pop) • Kid Rock, 1994
“The American Dream” - Hank Williams Jr., 1982 (#5)
“Gonna Go Huntin’ Tonight” - Hank Williams Jr., 1983 (#4)
“Leave Them Boys Alone” - Hank Williams, Jr. w/ Waylon Jennings & Ernest Tubb, 1983 (#6)
“Queen Of My Heart” - Hank Williams Jr., 1983 (#5)
“The Conversation” - Waylon Jennings & Hank Williams, Jr., 1983 (#15)
“Attitude Adjustment” - Hank Williams Jr., 1984 (#5)
“Man Of Steel” - Hank Williams Jr., 1984 (#3)
“I’m For Love” - Hank Williams Jr., 1985 (#1)
“Major Moves” Hank Williams Jr., 1985 (#10) • John Michael Montgomery, 2003
“Outlaw’s Reward” - Hank Williams Jr., 1985
“This Ain’t Dallas” - Hank Williams Jr., 1985 (#4)
“Country State Of Mind” - Hank Williams Jr., 1986 (#2)
“Born To Boogie” Hank Williams Jr., 1987 (#1) • Lynyrd Skynyrd, 2003
“Heaven Can’t Be Found” Hank Williams Jr., 1987 (#4) • Dusty Drake, 2003
“When Something Is Good (Why Does It Change)” - Hank Williams Jr., 1987 (#31)
“If The South Woulda Won” - Hank Williams Jr., 1988 (#8)
“Young Country” Hank Williams Jr., 1988 (#2) • Blake Shelton, Trick Pony & Darryl Worley, 2003
“Finders Are Keepers” - Hank Williams Jr., 1989 (#6)
“What It Boils Down To” - Frank Burgess, 1989 (#81)
“Don’t Give Us A Reason” - Hank Williams Jr., 1990 (#27)
“Good Friends, Good Whiskey, Good Lovin’” - Hank Williams Jr., 1990 (#10)
“Man To Man” - Hank Williams Jr., 1990 (#62)
“I Mean I Love You” - Hank Williams Jr., 1991 (#39)
“If It Will It Will” Hank Williams Jr., 1991 (#26) • .38 Special, 2003
“Come On Over To The Country” - Hank Williams Jr., 1992 (#55)
“Hotel Whiskey” - Hank Williams Jr., 1992 (#54)
“I Ain’t Goin’ Peacefully” - Hank Williams Jr., 1994 (#62)
“Hog Wild” - Hank Williams Jr., 1995 (#74)
“A Country Boy Can Survive (Y2K Version)” - Chad Brock w/ Hank Williams Jr. & George Jones, 1999
“America Will Survive” - Hank Williams Jr., 2001 (#45)
“Outdoor Lovin’ Man” - Hank Williams Jr., 2002 (#60)
“Outlaw Women” - Tracy Lawrence, 2003
“You Can’t Find Many Kissers” - Mark Chesnutt, 2006
Awards:
2008 - BMI Icon