ten billion butterfly sneezes

Hank Thompson, another country singer whose stardom slightly predates my interest in the genre, has passed away at age 82. Hank was yet another one of my grandparent’s favorites, and I doubtless was first exposed to his music at their farmhouse atop a rocky Kansas hill.

I came to like and enjoy Hank’s music, along with that of his peers, as I grew a bit older.

But then, a song called A Six Pack to Go has timeless qualities, and could have been my theme song in my misspent collegiate days.

And, I had no idea that he had an so many firsts in the music industry:

Thompson was the first country entertainer to travel with his own light and sound system, the first to have a corporate sponsor, the first to record in high fidelity stereo and the first to broadcast his television show in color.

In 1961, Thompson recorded the historic album “Live At The Golden Nugget,” the first live album ever recorded.

RIP, Hank. My next six pack to go will be a Shiner’s.

-k-

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