A Night to Remember: Bocephus Rocks Moulton in ‘78
It was the kind of Southern summer evening that settles into memory like a favorite old song—humid air, the hum of cicadas, and a buzz of anticipation rippling through town.
On July 1, 1978, the A.W. Todd Coliseum in Moulton, Alabama, played host to an unforgettable night of music and community as Hank Williams Jr. and The Bama Band took the stage. For just $5.50, fans grabbed their lawn chairs, packed into the venue, and witnessed a rare, hometown moment in music history. Most of the hits that would go on to define Hank’s signature sound throughout the late '70s and '80s—songs like “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound,” “All My Rowdy Friends,” and “A Country Boy Can Survive”—had yet to hit the airwaves. This was Hank Jr. on the edge of a breakthrough, still forging his identity in front of a live, local crowd.
Sharing the stage with Hank was an unforgettable lineup: the legendary Merle Kilgore, beloved local band Larry Smith & Kinfolk, and the freshly crowned state champion Lawrence County High School FFA String Band. Kinfolk’s roster was a who’s who of hometown talent—Ed Canada, Bill Darnell, Rod Wallace, Joe Crisler, Lynn Smith, Chris Crisler, Chuck Borden, and Larry Smith himself. They didn’t just warm up the crowd—they lit the place up.
The LCHS FFA String Band, helped by Principal Lewis Watkins and sponsors Larry Pace and Roger Terry, had recently earned top honors at the Future Farmers of America Convention in Montgomery. Members Rex Free, Cris Bain, Tim Lovett, Scott Sanderson, and Tim Martin had become local celebrities in their own right, and their performance that night was the cherry on top of an already remarkable season.
Larry Smith & Kinfolk performing.
Kinfolk, already a regional favorite, were more than just an opening act—they were family. Performing alongside national names but rooted right here in Lawrence County, their presence made the whole evening feel like something special that truly belonged to the town.
This once-in-a-lifetime night came together thanks to local radio personality Ray Wallace. When he caught wind that Hank Jr.—living in Cullman at the time—was looking to play close to home, Larry Smith and Tommy Pettus made a bold move: they reached out and made it happen. With “Family Tradition” freshly recorded in Muscle Shoals, Hank was ready to try it out in front of a familiar crowd.
The energy in the coliseum was electric. For many, it was their first real concert. Tina Hamilton McWhorter remembers being just a kid, brought by her dad, soaking in the music and the moment. Tim Martin still smiles when he thinks about stepping on that stage with the FFA band. Ronnie Jones remembers winning his tickets on WHIY, and David White recalls being there with his grandparents, wide-eyed and in awe.
Larry Smith shakes hands with Bocephus himself.
Merle Kilgore and Larry Smith.
Backstage, there were handshakes and snapshots—captured moments with Hank Jr. and Merle Kilgore that still bring smiles decades later. Larry Smith’s photos from that night aren’t just keepsakes—they’re pieces of living Lawrence County history.
More than a concert, it was a community celebration. Neighbors danced, sang along, and shared the kind of joy that only live music can bring. It was small-town magic at its finest.
Thanks to preserved photos and cherished memories shared by attendees like Larry Smith, Sarah Williams Shelton, and Tommy Pettus, the night Hank Williams Jr. rocked Moulton continues to echo through time as one of Lawrence County’s proudest moments.
The following year, Hank Jr. would release his now-iconic album Family Tradition, catapulting him into the peak of his career and solidifying the rowdy, outlaw-country sound that fans still celebrate today.
Special thanks to Larry Smith, Sarah Williams Shelton, and Tommy Pettus for generously sharing their photos and memories, allowing us all to relive this incredible night together.
