Hank Williams

The undisputed Hillbilly Shakespeare, Hank Williams laid the foundation for modern country music with little more than a guitar and a broken heart. His songs are masterclasses in simplicity, using plain language to express profound loneliness and spiritual longing. Though his career was brief, his influence is permanent; he didn't just sing the blues, he gave them a twang and a high-lonesome sound that still echoes through every barroom and church house today.