Hank Thompson
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Biography
Henry William Thompson, born Septemberâ¯3,â¯1925 in Waco, Texas, was an American country singer whose career spanned seven decades. After serving as a Navy radioman in Worldâ¯Warâ¯II and studying electrical engineering at Princeton, Henry William Thompson returned to Waco in 1946 and began recording for local labels; his first single, "Whoa Sailor", released on Globe Records, marked his entry into the commercial music scene. By 1950 the single "Green Light" had reached the Topâ¯40, and in 1952 he achieved his first Number 1 hit with "The Wild Side of Life", a track that would inspire Kitty Wellsâs response hit, "It Wasn't God Who Made HonkyâTonk Angels".Henry William Thompsonâs early output included a series of EPs such as The New Green Light (1955) and North Of The Rio Grande 1955), followed by the fullâlength New Recordings Of Hank Thompson's AllâTime Hits (1956). His 1957 releases Hank! and the 1958 Dance Ranch showcased his âightâ Westernâswing style, characterized by a danceâbeat emphasis and meticulous arrangements that distinguished his work from Bobâ¯Willsâs more instrumental approach. Throughout the 1960s Henry William Thompson released several chartâfriendly albums, including This Broken Heart Of Mine (1960), The Number One Country And Western Band (1962), and Golden Country Hits (1964), and maintained a steady presence on the country charts with singles such as "HonkyâTonk Girl" (1954) and "Tuxedo Junction" (1959).From 1947 to 1964 Henry William Thompson recorded for Capitol Records, then moved to Warnerâ¯Bros. (1966â1967), and later to Dot and its successors (1968â1980). In 1997 he issued Hank Thompson and Friends, featuring duets with prominent country artists, and in 2000 released Seven Decades on Hightone, a retrospective that highlighted his longâstanding influence. Henry William Thompson was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1997. He continued touring through the 2000s, performing at venues such as Billy Bobâs Texas, until his final concert on Octoberâ¯8,â¯2007, in his hometown of Waco. After a brief hospitalization for lung cancer, he died on Novemberâ¯6,â¯2007, at ageâ¯82.
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- The Wild Side Of Life
- Smoky The Bar
- A Six Pack to Go
- Yesterday's Girl
- Here's to Country Music
- Headin' Down The Wrong Highway
- A Fooler, A Faker
- Hey George, Hey Hank by George Jones
- Honky Tonk Town
- The Bluest Rose in Texas Tonight
- How Do You Feel?
- How Do You Hold A Memory
- She's Just a Whole Lot Like You by Hank Thompson
- How Cold Hearted Can You Get
- Dry Bread featuring Delaney
- How Many Teardrops Will It Take
- Desert Jewels
- Been Down That Road
- I Ain't Never
- A Six Pack To Go
- I Don't Want To Know
- I Didn't Mean to Fall in Love
- Honky Tonk Girl by Hank Thompson
- I Gotta Have My Baby Back
