"Nail's biography is a must-read for anyone seeking greater understanding and insight into the short but fabulous life and career of the legendary Hank Williams. I wholeheartedly recommend it."
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Ed Guy, noted Hank Williams expert
Dr. Paul R. Nail provides the most comprehensive biography to date of Hiram "Hank" Williams, The King of Country Music. He begins with Hank's humble origins from a broken home in rural Alabama in the 1920s and '30s, through nearly a decade of lean years, honing his skills in the rough and tumble honkytonks of south Alabama.
His story includes his often volatile marriage to first wife, Audrey (Sheppard) Williams, the reputed inspiration for many of his songs, his rise in fame at the Louisiana Hayride and Grand Ole Opry, and finally his untimely death on New Year's Day, 1953. He was 29 years old.
In Hank's short life, he suffered from congenital back problems, binge drinking, overwork, back surgery, overmedication, divorce, and perhaps most of all, a broken heart.
(About the Author)
Paul R. Nail holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Texas Christian University (1981). He grew up in rural Oklahoma in the 1960s but did not become a Hank Williams fan until discovering his body of work in 1984. Now retired, Dr. Nail was a college professor, researcher, and author for 39 years. Herein, he brings together classic and contemporary theory and research in psychology to provide a unique perspective into the life and career of Hank Williams, widely regarded as the most influential singer/songwriter in country music history.