Hank Williams, AKA Luke the Drifter
Whereas some music artists use alter egos as an excuse to behave in bizarre ways, country legend Hank Williams chose the moralistic route when he created his alter ego, Luke the Drifter. Williams was looking to promote good deeds and dispense some real wisdom. After establishing himself as a bona fide star, the public expected all his music to have a uniform “Hank Williams sound.”
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So, he decided to create a new persona. As Luke the Drifter, he felt free to sing about more serious subjects – like societal wrongs – without fearing any backlash. He wrote and performed “talking blues” songs with thoughtful narrations or “recitations.” Of all 150 Hank Williams songs, only 14 were credited to Luke the Drifter, and none of them made the charts.