SHOW BIZ KIDS: All His Rowdy Friends Are Dead

Life is hard enough in the cold shadow of a legend, particularly one who died when you were four. Having problems with drugs and alcohol doesn't help. Neither does a disfiguring accident, or being called "Bocephus." But somehow, Hank Williams, Jr. lives on, successfully, and has managed to make his own imprint on country music.

Hank Jr.'s hard-nosed mother, "Miss" Audrey Williams, engineered her son's early success. She dressed Junior up in his father's clothes and made him sing the old hits to curious audiences. Hank eventually tired of his mother's domination (as did Hank Sr., who divorced her twice) and ditched the clone act, writing his own songs and taking his work in a less traditional direction.

Hank Jr. became an important member of the Outlaw country movement of the 1970s. Fellow newcomers like Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson, as well as veteran Willie Nelson, found success bucking slick Nashville trends and appealing to freaky long-haired rock fans. Hits like "Family Tradition" and "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound" paid tribute to Hank Jr.'s hard-partying genes and built him a devoted fan base.

Williams was seriously injured while climbing a mountain in Montana, which is an awesome way to injure yourself if you must. The recovery was long and painful, and the surgery scars necessitated his famous disguise of beard, sunglasses, and hat. This led to a great deal of confusion whenever he was in the same room as Jeff Lynne.

Like his dad, Hank Jr. has abused far too many substances and far too often. But it hasn't killed him. Hank has paid tribute to his famous father by recording many of his songs and participating in some well-intentioned grave robbing. He's also raised a singing son of his own, country/punk hybrid Hank Williams III. But the greatest tribute has been finding success on his own terms, not as a pale imitation of Hank Williams. Who was already quite pale.

TODAY'S RECOMMENDATION: "Women I've Never Had" by Hank Williams, Jr.
AVAILABLE ON: Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits; iTunes