The First Family of Country Music

The First Family of Country Music is a blog dedicated to the life and work of the Williams family.

The Williams Family

The Williams family is one of the most successful and well-known country music families in the world. The patriarch of the family, Hank Williams Sr., was a country music legend who had a string of hits in the 1940s and 1950s. His children, Hank Jr. and Holly, also had successful careers in country music. The family has been involved in the country music industry for generations and has produced some of the most iconic country music songs of all time.

Hank Williams

Hiram “Hank” Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer-songwriter and musician.Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, Williams recorded 35 singles (five released posthumously) that reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 that ranked number one (three posthumously).

Hank Williams, Jr.

Hank Williams, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and musician. His musical style is often considered a blend of Southern rock, blues and traditional country. He is the son of country music legend Hank Williams and the father of Hank Williams III and Holly Williams. Hank Williams, Jr. began his career by following in his famous father’s footsteps, but he eventually broke away to forge his own successful path with a distinctly different sound. He has been active in the music industry since the 1950s and has released more than 70 albums.

Hank Williams III

Hank Williams III (born Hank Williams, Jr.; Castleton Farms, Nashville, Tennessee, May 4, 1972), also known as Hank 3, is an American musician. He is the son of country singer Hank Williams, Jr. and the grandson of country music legend Hank Williams. He has two half-sisters: Jett and Holly Williams. His music incorporates elements of the hardcore punk, honky tonk, alternative country and psychobilly genres.

From 1997 to 2001, he performed shows with his bands Assjack and Superjoint Ritual. Other musical projects he has created include Arson Anthem (formed with Philip Anselmo of Superjoint Ritual), The Damn Band and The Howling Diablos (accounting for his “3” in his stage name).

Williams has released a total of eight solo studio albums; five of which are available on the major label Curb Records. He is now signed to Megaforce Records and released his seventh album Slow Train to Hell on October 2, 2012.[1] On May 26th 2016 it was announced that Williams would be releasing a new solo album titled “Take as Needed for Pain”, as well as an album with Superjoint that would serve as a follow-up to their 2003 debut A Lethal Dose of American Hatred.[2]

The Carter Family

The Carter Family was a country music group that performed and recorded between 1927 and 1956. The group was composed of Maybelle Carter, her husband Ezra Carter, and their daughters June Carter, Helen Carter, and Anita Carter. The Carter Family was one of the most influential groups in country music history and their recordings are still widely heard today.

A.P. Carter

Alvin Pleasant “A.P.” Carter (December 15, 1891 – November 7, 1960) was an American musician and founding member of The Carter Family, one of the most important groups in the history of country music. With his wife Sara and sister-in-law Maybelle, Carter helped to develop and popularize a distinctive sound that relied on close harmony singing and minimal accompaniment.

Born in rural southwest Virginia, A.P. Carter was exposed to a variety of music during his childhood. He learned to play the fiddle and banjo, and by his teens he was performing at local dances with Solventional Flea (a.k.a. “Uncle Sol”), a fiddler who would later influence his playing style. In 1911, he met Sara Dougherty, who would become his wife and musical partner; the following year they had their first child, Maybelle (who would later marry A.P.’s brother Ezra).

The Carter Family’s first recordings were made in 1927, and they quickly became one of the most popular acts in country music. Their simple, intimate style – featuring A.P.’s lead vocals accompanied by Maybelle’s distinctive guitar playing – captivated audiences and helped to shape the sound of country music for years to come. The group disbanded in 1943, but reunited briefly in 1955 for a series of reunion concerts; they also recorded a final album together in 1956 (Sara died shortly thereafter).

A.P.’s son Joe Carter continued his father’s musical legacy as a member of The Historic Carter Family; he also recorded several solo albums and toured with his own band, The New Traditioneers.

Maybelle Carter

Maybelle Carter was one of the most influential musicians of her generation, and a key figure in the development of country music. She was born Maybelle Addington in Nickelsville, Virginia, in 1909. Her mother taught her to play the banjo, and she began performing with her family at local dances and picnics. In 1926, she married Ezra Carter, and the following year they formed The Carter Family band with A. P. Carter, Ezra’s cousin.

The Carter Family was one of the first bands to be signed to a recording contract, and their records were hugely popular. Maybelle’s distinctive style of playing, which became known as the “Carter Scratch”, was a major influence on later generations of musicians. The Carter Family recorded more than 300 songs over the course of their career, and were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970. Maybelle died in 1978, but her legacy continues to inspire musicians all over the world.

June Carter

June Carter Cash (born Valerie June Carter; June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, comedian, and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash. Prior to her marriage to Cash, she was professionally known as June Carter and was a respected country music artist in her own right. She played a pivotal role in Johnny Cash’s career, acting as his mentor and collaborator.

In the 1960s and 1970s, June frequently toured with Johnny Cash as part of “The Johnny Cash Show”. She continued to tour with her husband after their marriage until his death in 2003. She died on May 15, 2003, aged 73 from complications following heart valve replacement surgery.

The Cash Family

Although there are many famous country music families, the Cash family is perhaps the most iconic. Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, and their children Rosanne Cash, John Carter Cash, and Carlene Carter have all made significant contributions to the genre. The Cash family has had a huge impact on country music, and their legacy continues to this day.

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash was an American musician who is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He was known for his deep, baritone voice and for his work in country and rock & roll. He also had a great interest in the American South and its history.

Cash was born in Kingsland, Arkansas, on February 26, 1932, to Ray and Carrie Cash. He had three sisters: Reba, Louise, and Joanne. His father was a sharecropper and also worked as a Baptist minister. His family was very poor. When he was three years old, they moved to Dyess Colony in Arkansas so that his father could work on a farm there.

Cash joined the Air Force in 1950 and was stationed in Germany. It was while he was in the Air Force that he began to develop his musical interest. After his discharge from the Air Force in 1954, he returned to Arkansas and began working various jobs before moving to Memphis, Tennessee, where he worked as a door-to-door salesman for home appliances. He also began to play guitar and write songs.

In 1955, Cash met Vivian Liberto at a drive-in movie theater in Memphis. They were married on August 7, 1954. They had four daughters: Rosanne (born 1955), Kathy (born 1956), Cindy (born 1958), and Tara (born 1959). The couple divorced in 1966.

In 1958, Cash signed with Sun Records and released his first single, “I Walk the Line.” The song went to number one on the country charts and made him an overnight sensation. He went on to have many more hits over the next few years including “Ring of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “A Boy Named Sue,” and “I Still Miss Someone.” His records were immensely popular both in the United States and abroad. In 1968, he released the album At Folsom Prison which featured a live performance at Folsom State Prison; the album was a huge success. That same year he also released At San Quentin which featured another live performance; this too was very successful. These albums helped to solidify Cash’s image as “The Man in Black” – a tough guy who sang about criminals and prisoners with empathy and understanding.

In 1971, Cash’s career took another turn when he married June Carter of The Carter Family – one of country music’s most famous families. Together they recorded several duets including “If I Were a Carpenter” and ” Jackson.” They also toured together extensively both in the United States and abroad. They won several Grammy Awards together including Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “Jackson” in 1970 and Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for “‘Till I Waltzed with You” in 1983.

In 1980s Johnny Cash’s health began to decline due to issues with addiction; however, he continued to tour and recording new music up until his death on September 12, 2003 at the age of 71 from complications due to diabetes mellitus

June Carter Cash

June Carter Cash (born Valerie June Carter; June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, comedian, dancer, actress, and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of country singer Johnny Cash. She played a significant role in reintroducing her husband to Christianity in the last few years of his life.

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne Cash is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of country music icon Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Liberto Cash Distin. Rosanne has released fourteen albums, which have produced hit singles such as “Seven Year Ache” and “Tennessee Flat Top Box”. She has also authored three books, including a memoir about her life with her father, Johnny Cash.