About Me
Hank BeckerProfessional musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist-Career spanning nearly 5 decades-Born August 6, 1957 Muhlenberg County, Kentucky-Self taught guitar from age 6 to 12-Took band in school on trumpet and drums, from 5th grade through high school-Studied guitar at age 13 under Merle Travis and Chet Adkins: mentor and creator of the Muhlenberg sound, the legendary Mose Reager-Attended Berklee School of Music 1975 through 1978-Began playing professionally at age 8, and continues presently-Notable bands include The Rebels, Yonder, The McHenry Band, The Little Tomatoes, and Hank Becker and the Boogie Chillin-Beckers CD Chillin at Play was recorded at Duck Tape Music and produced by southern rock great, Johnny Sandlin. Sandlins credits include gold and platinum albums for The Allman Brothers Band, Delbert McClinton, Cher, Johnny Jenkins, Widespread Panic, and many others-Chillin at Play has received extensive airplay and rave reviews and has two hits to its credit--Standing Around in the Rain and Hot Sauce-Becker has proven to be a prolific song writer and top notch live performer with opening credits including; Gregg Allman, Delbert McClinton, Rascal Flats, Los Lobos, The Neville Brothers, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Leon Russell, Starship, and B.B. King, just to name a few-Becker has also gained recognition as a radio personality. Beckers time as DJ of 92Blues, reached very high ratings for the station 92.1 WZEW. Hank used his near total recall and respect for blues artists to make the program informative and entertaining-Becker has such a loyal fan base they refer to themselves as Hankheads, as attested by the many Hankhead t-shirts and paraphernalia seen along the Gulf Coast-******************************************************
**********Well, Folks, I was jammin' on, as I had done all my life. Playing 8 days a week, making CDs, working with my band "The Boogie Chillin'" when all of the sudden in 2002, the wheels fell off my cart. I was having some trouble breathing. I woke up in the hospital, after being on a ventilator for a couple of weeks. It looked like curtains for Hank Becker. The doctors told me I had emphysema and complications due to pneumonia. I used to smoke anything that would burn: cigs, weed, old socks, monster truck tires, mattresses--anything. So I had to duck out of the scene. Meanwhile, the genius doctors fed me so many steroids that I had to have both hips replaced, which was another nightmare all in itself. I am just now making a bit of a comeback, playing live shows. With God's grace and a bit of good luck Ill continue to get stronger.
Anyway during my many stays in the hospital I wrote a lot of new songs. Lately, it seems, I've gained a new respect for life and an appreciation for the real things like family, true friends and ones own contribution to make this world a better place.
I still get the Boogie Chillin together every once in a while but trying to keep all those great people on the same page is like trying to rope cats. So I have to be happy writing playing solo and with smaller groups of buddies.
The members of the Boogie Chillin, Donna Hall, vocalist, has a new solo album and she used one of my tunes Its Never Too Late as the title cut. Ricky Chancey, harp/guitar, is on the road with Bocehpus Hank Williams Jr. Jimmy Roebuck, drums, has his own jazz trio. Harold Floyd, bass, formerly with blues legend Gate Mouth Brown, is working with bands from Gulf Shores, Alabama to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
So I'm just working my way back into the saddle. Recently, I was able to get some new recordings started in Muscle Shoals with Scott Boyer, who plans to finish them up by getting David Hood, Mike Dylan, NC Thurman and the rest of the Decoys/ Swampers to play on it for me.
Meanwhile, I'm hanging out with my wife, Debbie, my kids, grandkids and dogs. Playing some everyday and writing when The Muse hits me. Boogie on and keep the faith.
Peace, love, Music---Hank Becker
This profile was made at www.marksgraphichelp.com
