Homepage / Entertainment

Country Star Hank Thompson Dies

Spokesman Says Singer Dies Peacefully Surrounded By Friends, Family

POSTED: 6:52 am CST November 4, 2007
UPDATED: 8:58 pm CST November 7, 2007

Hank Thompson, who mixed honky-tonk and Western swing on such hits as "A Six Pack to Go" and "The Wild Side of Life," has died. The country singer and bandleader was 82.

Related: Images | Web Extra: Dan Miller Interviews Country Star Hank Thompson In 1992 (20 Minutes) | Reporter Jimmy Carter Reflects On Thompson's Life

Thompson died of lung cancer late Tuesday at his home in the Fort Worth suburb of Keller, said spokesman Tracy Pitcox, who is also president of Heart of Texas Records. He died just days after canceling his tour and announcing his retirement.

"He was battling aggressive lung cancer," Pitcox said Wednesday in a statement. "He remained conscious until the last couple of hours and passed away peacefully at about 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday night surrounded by his friends and family."

The last show Thompson played was Oct. 8 in his native Waco. That day was declared "Hank Thompson Day" by Gov. Rick Perry and Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy.

Fans loved Thompson's distinctive voice and his musical style, which drew on the Western swing first developed in the 1930s by fellow Texan Bob Wills. Thompson was named to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989.

His first hit record was "Whoa, Sailor" in 1946. That year, he started a band called the Brazos Valley Boys, which won Billboard magazine's touring band of the year award 14 consecutive times.

Thompson's wife requested that in lieu of flowers, a donation in the country star’s name be made to:

The Heart of Texas Country Music Museum
1701 Bridge St.
Brady, TX 76825

or

to the donor’s favorite charity.

Links We Like

Sponsored Content
Check out our picks for the most luxurious and unique homes that were on the market in 2009. More

Find out what a sputtering economy and an increasingly difficult to crack job market means to you. More

Believing urban legends about sex could be hurting your sex life. Get the truth behind common sex myths. More

Which companies are the most dishonest when dealing with you, the consumer? Here’s the list. More

Sponsored Links

E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters