SEARCH RESULTS FOR: Hank%20Snow
1 of 8 Pages     Next ›

(Bandleader, vocals, 1936–2003) Alabama-raised Henry ‘Hank’ Ballard fronted The Midnighters (previously The Royals). 1954 brought the Detroit group four big US R&B hits with risqué lyrics about a fictitious ‘Annie’. In 1960, the group released the original version of ‘The Twist’, written by Ballard, but the younger, more photogenic Chubby Checker took the million sales and ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley

(Songwriter, vocals, b. 1935) One-time member of the Cochran Brothers (with rock‘n’roller Eddie Cochran, no relation), Isola, Mississippi-born Garland Perry Cochran was one of the most-oft-recorded songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s. ‘She’s Got You’ (a hit for Patsy Cline), ‘Make The World Go Away’ (a hit for both Ray Price and Eddy Arnold) and Willie Nelson’s ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

(Vocals, b. 1918) Best known for a pair of late 1950s and early 1960s hits – ‘Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On’ and ‘Please Help Me, I’m Falling’ – McLellan, Florida-born tenor singer Lawrence Hankins started singing during a slow recovery from an injury as a child. He has been a fixture on the Grand Ole ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

Britain’s first home-grown guitar hero, Hank Marvin was born Brian Rankin in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1941. His first instruments were piano and banjo, but he switched to guitar upon discovering Buddy Holly. Marvin formed a skiffle band, The Railroaders, with school friend Bruce Welch, and they travelled to London in 1958 to compete, unsuccessfully, in ...

Source: Rock Guitar Heroes, consultant editor Rusty Cutchin

(Vocals, guitar, bandleader, 1918–92) Hank Penny was, with his Radio Cowboys, the most ardent exponent of western swing in the south-east prior to the Second World War. He relocated to California after the war and led excellent bands, though as time passed he eased towards comedy at the expense of music. He recorded prolifically from ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

(Vocals, 1914–99) Hank Snow ran away from his Canadian home at 12 to join the Merchant Marine. Wanderlust would inform his great ‘travelling’ songs, ‘I’m Movin’ On’ and ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’. A disciple of Jimmie Rodgers, Snow would bill himself as the Yodelling Ranger, until his developing baritone made him better suited for ballads like ‘Hello Love’, ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley

(Vocals, 1914–99) This Nova Scotia-born singer was one of country music’s most popular figures in the 1950s and 1960s, and a Grand Ole Opry headliner for a half century. He recorded over 100 albums and had nearly as many chart singles. For more than a decade he recorded for the Canadian Bluebird label before breaking through in the USA ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

Hank Thompson (b. 1925) is one of the most difficult country stars to classify. His Brazos Valley Boys were for a number of years one of the most talented and revered of western-swing bands, yet Thompson was never really a western-swing performer. He recorded a number of songs that remain honky-tonk classics, but he was never just a honky-tonk ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

(Singer-songwriter, 1923–53) Insofar as rock has been shaped by country music, it has been shaped by Hank Williams. Williams, a superstar at 25 and dead at 29, set standards for popular as well as country music, and was a virtual hit songwriting machine. Yet, like several young rock stars who followed him, he was ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley

Rural Alabama-born Hiram Williams (1923–53) has emerged in the half-century since his death – at age 29 – as the archetypal honky-tonk artist and arguably the single most influential artist in modern country music. The songs that Williams wrote and sang in the course of his short and none-too-sweet life – ‘Hey Good Lookin’,’ ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’, ‘Cold ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

(Vocals, songwriter, b. 1979) The grandson of the late Hank Williams and son of Hank Williams Jr. must have music in his genes, and like his forbears, Shelton ‘Hank III’ is a rebel. 1996’s Three Hanks album featured his voice alongside those of his father and grandfather, and he realized that he would forever be judged ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

(Vocals, guitar, b. 1949) Williams was only three when his famous father died, but the youngster was raised to imitate his daddy’s records as closely as possible. He finally rebelled against that formula in 1975 by releasing Hank Williams Jr. And Friends with his southern-rock friends. After an injury-induced break, he returned to performing in 1976, ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

When Vassar Clements formed a band called Hillbilly Jazz in 1975, Bill Monroe’s former fiddler pulled the cover off the hidden connection between country music and jazz. The two genres had more in common than most people thought. After all, Jimmie Rodgers recorded with Louis Armstrong early in their careers; jazz legend Charlie Christian debuted on Bob Wills’ radio ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

Country music and gospel have always been close partners, since many gospel acts come from the American South, and Nashville, the home of country music, lies in the heart of the Bible Belt. Numerous influences abound within the Church, stretching from traditional shape-note singing that goes back several hundred years, to today’s contemporary and Christian ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry is the oldest continuously broadcast live music programme in the world. Since it hit the airways in 1926, it has served as a springboard for dozens of key artists’ rise to national fame. Its presence in Nashville was central to the growth of the city’s music industry. Opry Origins The Opry started almost by accident one ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen
1 of 8 Pages     Next ›

AUTHORITATIVE

An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...

CURATED

Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.

Rock, A Life Story

Rock, A Life Story

The ultimate story of a life of rock music, from the 1950s to the present day.

David Bowie

David Bowie

Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers his life, music, art and movies, with a sweep of incredible photographs.