Hank Locklin sings “Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On” On Country’s Family Reunion

Lawrence Hankins Locklin was born on February 15, 1918, just south of Brewton in McLellan, Florida, a village so small it is not show on most maps.  

Hank was hit by a school bus when he was 9 years old. “It almost smashed me flatter than a fritter,” he said in an interview. During his recovery, he learned to play the guitar. By his teens was a featured performer on a radio station in Pensacola. He dropped out of high school to become a traveling musician and sometime shared a stage with Elvis Presley. 

Hank eventually found his way to Houston and hosted his own radio show. When he first broadcast “Send Me the Pillow You Dream On,” the station was deluged with 200 pillows. 

After recording with several smaller labels, in 1955, his career took off when he signed with RCA. In 1960, “Please Help Me, I’m Falling” was Billboard’s No. 1 country song for 14 weeks. He stayed with that label for 19 years.

Hank was one of the first to travel the globe playing country music and is particularly credited with popularizing the genre in Ireland. 

His first marriage to Will Jean Murphy ended in divorce. He then married Anita Crooks and was married to her for 39 years until his death on March 8, 2009. He had two sons and three daughters, as well as 12 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

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