Hank Snow

Artist: Hank Snow

LP: Spanish Fire Ball and Other Great Hank Snow Stylings

Song: "'Cross the Brazos at Waco"

[ listen ]

Born in Nova Scotia, Canada in 1914, Hank Snow ran away from home and an abusive stepfather at age 12, taking up work as a cabin boy on a fishing boat. After ordering a $6 guitar from Eaton's Department Store, he began singing and strumming (and yodeling) and eventually made his way to the stages of Canada's largest cities—and then finally, to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry. You can read all about the life and career of Hank Snow, see his entire discography and learn how he helped launch the career of a young Elvis Presley on Wikipedia here. The liner notes (and some drawings of Spanish Fireballs) from Hank's 1967 Latin-influenced LP are included here:

[ Hank Snow: May 9, 1914 — December 20, 1999 ]