Hank Thompson

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Hank Thompson started as a Honky Tonk singer,
And developed into one hell of a Western Swinger,
I have listened to his music all my long life so far.
So this is my tribute to this great Country Music Star.

 

 

 

 

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Hank Thompson

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Hank Thompson is one of those Honky Tonk singers,
Whose life sort of paralleled mine as a country swinger.
His first hit song was “Humpty Dumpty Heart” in 1948.
When I was 5 years old, listening to his music so great.

Hank Thompson

 

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I loved nearly every song old Hank ever did in his time,
With his “Brazos Valley Boys” sounding so very fine.
In 1952, Hank had his first number 1 hit with the song,
“The Wild Side Of Life” on top for 15 weeks, so long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We always had a radio playing at home back then,
And we listened to the Grand Ole Opry with a grin.
So we often heard Hanks songs and I grew up liking them.
As the hits continued to come for many years for him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hank followed Bob Wills success into Western Swing,
With a little smoother style that he often did bring,
Hank was referred to as “King Of Western Swing.”
As all those great Western Swing songs he did sing.

Western Swingers

 

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I recall at one point Hank had his very own TV show,
He would fly in on a helicopter from a ranch of his own,
Then do the show which I thought was just great,
And fly off at the end as if he had an important date.

Hank Thompson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I loved that show that aired once per week back then,
And I watched that show ot home on the week end.
Like Ernest Tubb, Hank had a guitar strum of  his own,
That he used in his songs that became so well known.

“Way down yonder in the Indian nation……...”

 

 

 

 

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I finally got to see Hank Thompson live out In a field,
Out Near Pawnee at Lefty Frizzell’s Memorial deal.
Hank was the best of the artists to perform that day,
And I enjoyed his show immensely out in the hay.

.”……And a six pack to go.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I met Hank that day and he signed his hat for me,
I bought two of his belt buckles as he was so friendly,
One for big Buffalo Bob and another for little old me.
I still have mine new in the box to preserve that memory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Over the years, I collected a lot of Hank records on LP.
And recorded my favorite songs on an 80 minute CD.
On Billy Ray Special (BRS) label while drinking beer,
With many extra copies to last me through the years.

The 80 minute Hank Thompson CD I recorded from my own LP Records.

 

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“A Six Pack To Go”, with those “Bubbles In My Beer”.
And “Honky Tonk Girl” were songs I loved to hear.
“The Black Board Of My Heart” , the “Green Light,”
And “The Older The Violin” all sounded just right.

Some of Hank Thompson’s 33 1/3 rpm vinyl album record covers.

 

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By Bill
Thanks for reading Hank Thompson,
Bill