Countrry singer Hank Thompson,whos career spanned seven decades died at his Keller Texas home at age 82 of lung cancer.
Born in Waco Texas in 1925 to parents of Bohemian decent Thompson idolized Jimmy Rogers,Gene Autry and Vernon Dalhart.In his teens Thompson began performing on radio station WACO where he was known as "Hank the Hired Hand".
After serving in the Navy during WWII Thompson formed his first band,The Brazos Valley Boys.He caught the attention of Tex Ritter who helped him land a recording deal with Capitol Records in Nashville.In 1952 Hank and his band covered "The Wild Side Of Life" on the B side of a 45.To his suprise the song rose to number 1 on the charts and remained there for 15 weeks.Later that year Kitty Wells released an "answer" song,"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" and both songs became country music classics.
After the breakup of his band Thompson continued to record and perform live with local bands.His last album was released in 2000 and titled "Seven Decades" to acknowledge how long he had been recording.Some of his other hits are "A Six Pack To Go" and "Blackboard Of My Heart.
The Brazos Valley Boys were the first country band to take their own sound system on the road,the first to release a live album,"Live at the Golden Nugget" in 1961 and the first to broadcast a TV variety show in color.
His final apperence was October 8th in his hometown of Waco.Gov.Rick Perry proclaimed it Hank Thompson Day across the state.
Thompson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989,and he later said it was the greatest honor of his life.
RIP Hank.
Born in Waco Texas in 1925 to parents of Bohemian decent Thompson idolized Jimmy Rogers,Gene Autry and Vernon Dalhart.In his teens Thompson began performing on radio station WACO where he was known as "Hank the Hired Hand".
After serving in the Navy during WWII Thompson formed his first band,The Brazos Valley Boys.He caught the attention of Tex Ritter who helped him land a recording deal with Capitol Records in Nashville.In 1952 Hank and his band covered "The Wild Side Of Life" on the B side of a 45.To his suprise the song rose to number 1 on the charts and remained there for 15 weeks.Later that year Kitty Wells released an "answer" song,"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" and both songs became country music classics.
After the breakup of his band Thompson continued to record and perform live with local bands.His last album was released in 2000 and titled "Seven Decades" to acknowledge how long he had been recording.Some of his other hits are "A Six Pack To Go" and "Blackboard Of My Heart.
The Brazos Valley Boys were the first country band to take their own sound system on the road,the first to release a live album,"Live at the Golden Nugget" in 1961 and the first to broadcast a TV variety show in color.
His final apperence was October 8th in his hometown of Waco.Gov.Rick Perry proclaimed it Hank Thompson Day across the state.
Thompson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989,and he later said it was the greatest honor of his life.
RIP Hank.
