Hank Williams Poet of the People

An illustration of Hank Williams wearing a blue suit and playing guitar with a yellow circle on a red background behind him. He is surrounded by illustrations of records, a beer bottle, stars, and a microphone with blue text underneath. 

Hank Williams, Sr (September 17, 1927 - January 1, 1953) was a country singer/song writer. He is regarded as country music's first superstar and one of the most influential and significant country musicians of all times. Born Hiram King Williams in Mount Olive, Alabama to Lon and Lillie Williams, the family struggled economically. As a child, Williams met African American street performer, Rufus Payne, who taught him how to pay the guitar and the blues. Payne was a strong musical influence. Williams made his radio debut at the age of 13, and a year later he entered talent contests and formed his own band "Hank Williams and the Drifting Cowboys." When World War II started, the band mates were drafted therefore Williams continues as a solo artist. His major hits were "Your Cheatin' Heart," "I'm So Lonesome I could Cry," and "Honkey-Tonkey."

Williams suffered from alcoholism and drug related issues later in life. He died in 1953 at the age of 29 from cardiac arrest.

The button was to promote a box set of original recording named "The Complete Hank Williams" which was released in 1998. The record company Mercury Nashville produced the button as a promotion for the box set.