Sunday Morning Country Classic Spotlight to Feature Hank Thompson

Between 1948 and 1974, he scored no less than twenty-eight  top ten hits. Like many country stars, Hank Thompson took an early interest in music, winning several amateur contests on the Harmonica. The guitar became Thompson's  instrument of choice.

After high school he enlisted in the Navy. After the Navy he met Tex Ritter who helped him get a major record label. In 1952 he got his number one hit, "The Wild Side of Life," it was a song that inspired the hit that launched Kitty Wells career "It wasn't God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels."

Thompson's musical style characterized as honky-tonk western swing. Thompson remained a recording artist and did concert shows well into his 80's. Thompson was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and was inducted into Nashville's songwriters Hall of Fame in 1997.

In November of 2007 he canceled his "Sunset Tour" and retired from singing, two days after being diagnosed with lung cancer, a very aggressive form of it. He died on November 6, 2007, he was 82. Born in Waco, Texas on September 3, 1925.

Hear the music of Hank Thompson and his life Sunday December 16th on the Sunday Morning Country Classic Spotlight at 11 a.m. Get your Sunday started at 9 a.m. with the 98 Country Classic Show 98.1 FM 98 Country.