Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys was the operating band name for Hank Thompson, whose early career on radio lead to his forming a popular touring band. Their name played tribute to the Brazos River Valley in Texas, and they were voted the #1 Country Western Band for 14 years in a row by Billboard Magazine.

The Brazos Valley Boys first single, "Whoa Sailor" was released on the small Globe label in 1946. His next indie releases were on the regional Bluebonnet label, and he then was signed to Capitol in 1947. The biggest charting hit on Capitol and his signature song was 1952's "The Wild Side of Life".

Since the late 1940's he had been one of America's most popular western swing / honky tonk performers. Hank and the Brazos Valley Boys spent their most popular stint recording for Capitol records for 18 years from 1947-1964.


Thompson, was born September 3, 1925, in Waco, TX and was still active into late 2007, his last performance being in October in Waco Tx, his birthplace. He was diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer and died in Nov 2007.According to his spokesman Tracy Pitcox, who is also president of Heart of Texas Records, Thompson requested that no funeral be held. On November 14, a "celebration of life," open to both fans and friend, took place at Billy Bob's Texas, a Fort Worth, Texas country & western nightclub that bills itself as "The World's Largest Honky Tonk".




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