Its all about BOCEPHUS anymore questions! Randall Hank Williams (born May 26, 1949), better known as Hank Williams, Jr., is an American country singer-songwriter and musician. His musical style is often considered a blend of Southern Rock, blues, and traditional country. He is the son of country music pioneer Hank Williams Sr., and the father of Hank Williams ...III, Hilary Williams, Holly Williams, Samuel Williams and Katie Williams. Williams was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. His father nicknamed him Bocephus (after Grand Ole Opry comedian Rod Brasfield's ventriloquist dummy). After his father's untimely death in 1953, he was raised by his mother Audrey Williams. While a child, a vast number of contemporary musicians visited his family, who influenced and taught him various music instruments and styles. Among these figures of influence were Johnny Cash, Fats Domino, Earl Scruggs and Jerry Lee Lewis. He first stepped on the stage and sang his father's songs when he was eight years old. In 1963, he made his recording debut with "Long Gone Lonesome Blues," one of many of his father's classic songs.
In the music industry, there are very few artists who surpass superstar status to become true American icons. Hank Williams Jr. is a founding member of that elite club. Throughout his career, he's helped shape our country's cultural landscape with his unbridled creativity, from the gut honesty and unwavering personal convictions. His music not only reflects his own life, but the common experiences that unite us.
Hank Jr. has long been the voice of the common man, serving up observations on life and society that have made his fans listen intently and respond with a rousing "Hell Yeah!" as he puts words and music to their thoughts, hopes and everyday life.
His music has long been a barometer reflecting both our nation's challenges and the resilience of the human spirit in such anthems as "A Country Boy Can Survive." And he managed to perfectly capture the country's sense of fun and competitive drive every Monday night as he looked into the cameras before ABC's Monday Night Football and roared "Are You ready for Some Football?" Those words not only won him a legion of new fans during the last decade, they also earned Williams the distinction of being the first country artist to ever to win an Emmy, a feat he repeated 1990 through 1993.