In the mid to late 60's, I talked my parents into taking me to the Houston Fat Stock Show kick off dance featuring Hank Thompson and Ernest Tubb. I was about 13 and a BIG fan of both. It was held in the Astro Hall. 17,500 people showed up for that dance! Still figure EVERYONE was drunk 'cept for my folks and me!! Hank always had a Great Western Swing band that could produce "Top Shelf" music! Duke Gilleland, Belton Texas
He had a great voice and was a great entertainers in country music. I think he is often overlooked now for what he did. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories of him!
His name doesn't sound familiar, but what a spectacular career he had! I've probably heard his songs and didn't know who he was. I always learn something new watching your show. Thanks, Rhetty!
I remember that guy’s music. When I was little in the late 60’s my Mom had a couple of his albums. I remember the song’s “Oklahoma Hills” and “Smoky The Bar”. 🤔
Yes both of those were big songs! Tons of artist have remade or covered Oklahoma Hills here in Oklahoma. It's one of my favorite of his but he has a lot of good ones.
You're welcome Carole! He's an older artist that had hits in several different decades but his biggest time period was in the 1950's. Thanks for watching!
He really has an amazing sounding voice that's pretty distinctive. That never went away even up until the end which amazing since he had lung cancer. Thanks for watching my friend!
Thank you my friend! I agree with it being a nightmare. This was one of those. I was looking in this section for probably almost an hour. Sometimes I find them right away and other times it takes hours. Many times when I'm visiting it seems like the offices are closed and this was the case this day. Thanks for watching!
That'sa good question Karen. The smoking didn't seem to affect his voice at all and he really aged well. I don't think he looked his age at all. He might have lived another 20 years or so. I bet he would still be touring. Thanks for watching!
One of my favorite singers. His family name was actually not Thompson. His grandfathe came to U S from Czechoslavokia and settled in Texas. His real name was difficult to pronounce and spell so like many immigrants, he changed it to an Anglosized version.
Hank Thompson has two gravesites, then. The other half of his ashes are in a columbarium at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. His wife Ann died last year at the age of 88. Not sure if her ashes were place with his (in Waco), since she remarried.
Hi Rhett! Interesting man. He had a lot of “firsts” to his name, which is impressive. Do you happen to know, with Mr. Thompson having the first paid sponsor, which company it was? I’m curious. My guess is cigarettes!
His sponsor was Fallstaff Beer. I'm not even sure if that is still around as I have never heard of it. That was in 1955 and you can see some videos of those sponsorships on youtube. One other thing he was credited with being the first of in Cou try was a sound system and light show. He had some sort of state of the art sound system he or people who worked for him came up with. I'm not real familiar with it so I didn't include it because it was a little difficult for me to understand exactly how it was different back then. He definitely paved the way for many to follow. Thanks for watching Annie!
He had some hits in the 70's, 80's and 90's for sure. I'm not sure about the 2000's. He's an old style country artist though so if you don't listen to the older music or country music at all then you might not have heard of him at all. He really does have a good voice though and some of his songs are really different. Thanks for watching Jennifer!
