Gene Watson's Peers: Hank Thompson

Gene Watson's peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and rightly so!

All of Gene's Peers who were contacted in 2006 were most gracious with their time & words. It is here, within this special part of gene-watson.com, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Hank Thompson, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 16 July 2006.

Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Hank Thompson who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.

Gene Watson Fan Site

Hank Thompson

Hank Thompson
This quote was submitted on Sunday 16 July 2006

'I have known Gene for many years and worked with him on many occasions.  I have always considered him to be one of the best in the business.

Good luck with Gene's website'.


Thank you, Hank Thompson, for your support of Gene Watson.

Gene Watson Fan Site

About Hank Thompson...


Hank Thompson was born Henry William 'Hank' Thompson in Waco, Texas on 3 September 1925 & initially became a harmonica ace.  He later graduated to the guitar.  During the 1940s, Hank began broadcasting on a local radio station where he was sponsored by a flour company.

In 1943, Hank Thompson joined the US Navy and, upon his discharge three years later, he secured a spot on KWTX, a radio station in Waco.  It was at this time that he formed a Western Swing band called the Brazos Valley Boys.  Hank began his recording career (with Globe Records) in August 1946 where his initial session for the label produced the track 'Whoa sailor' which became a regional hit.

Upon the recommendation of Tex Ritter, Hank Thompson signed with Capitol Records where, between 1948 & 1965, he enjoyed a very successful period of hit songs with the label.  His first hit was 'Humpty dumpty heart', which went to No.2 & remained on the country music charts for thirty-eight weeks.  Hank also saw the re-release of 'Whoa sailor' on the Capitol Records label, a recording which reached No.6 in late 1949.

From the 1950s through to the mid-1970s, Hank Thompson enjoyed an enviable list of hit songs on Capitol Records including 'The wild side of life' (No.1 in 1952), 'Wake up Irene' (No.1 in 1953), 'A six pack to go' (No.10 in 1960), 'Oklahoma hills' (1961), 'Hangover tavern' (1961), 'On tap' (1968), 'In the can or in the bottle' (1968), 'Smokey the bear' (1968), 'I've come awful close' (1971), 'Cab driver' (1972), 'The older the violin, the sweeter the tune' (1974) & 'Who left the door to heaven open?' (1974).

Hank Thompson's 'The wild side of life', which contained the memorable line 'I didn't know God made honky tonk angels', inspired songwriter J.D. Miller to write the answer song 'It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels' which became the first hit single for pioneer female country vocalist Kitty Wells.

Hank Thompson quit Capitol Records in 1965, moving to Warner Bros. Records in 1966 & then to Dot Records in 1968.  In the intervening years, Hank & his Brazos Valley Boys continued to play dates worldwide & logged occasional hits on record labels such as ABC, MCA & Churchill.

In the 1970s, Hank Thompson's music reached a whole different group of fans when British rock band Status Quo had a world wide hit with their version of 'Wild side of life'.

Hank Thompson made a significant contribution to country music, fusing honky tonk & western swing & his talents were justly rewarded when he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989; he was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1997.

In 2000, Hank Thompson released a new album 'Seven Decades' on the Hightone Records label; the material was closer in sound to his older Capitol Records material.

On 1 November 2007, Hank Thompson cancelled the remainder of his 2007 'Sunset Tour' & retired from singing, two days after being released from a Texas hospital & diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer.

Hank went into hospice care at his home in Keller, Texas; Thompson's last performance had been on 8 October 2007 in Waco, Texas, his birthplace.  Hank Thompson died a month later, on 6 November 2007, from lung cancer.

According to his spokesman Tracy Pitcox, who is also president of Heart of Texas Records, Hank Thompson requested that no funeral be held.  On 14 November 2007, a 'celebration of life', which was open to both fans & friends, took place at Billy Bob's Texas, a Fort Worth, Texas country music nightclub that billed itself as 'The World's Largest Honky Tonk'.

Hank Thompson

Hank Thompson
3 September 1925 - 6 November 2007

Gene Watson Fan Site

Gene Watson Fan Site Visit Hank Thompson's Official Site

Gene Watson Fan Site