Hank Williams (1923--1953) is revered in the top tier of the
country-music pantheon, and his forlorn ballads are classics in the
country songbook. An inspired, natural genius, Williams was the
complete country balladeer. Though he knew almost nothing about the
technicalities of music, his plaintive songs--"Cold, Cold Heart,"
"Your Cheatin' Heart," and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"--affirm
that he knew everything about its heart.
Williams was to country music what Elvis Presley was to rock 'n'
roll. With his legend already firmly established, he was only
twenty-nine when he died on New Year's Day 1953 (or, perhaps, New
Year's Eve 1952) in the back seat of his baby-blue Cadillac on the
way to a concert in Canton, Ohio. Interest in Williams is
unflagging, and myths and tall tales about his life and death
continue to grow with every passing year.
Although the fascinating trail of Williams's career has been a
favorite subject for biographers, Hank Williams, So Lonesome
winnows away the myths and hearsay while recounting this Alabama
boy's blazing rise to stardom. This close look at Williams moves
beyond other books by providing new research, evaluations, and
interviews with friends, family, and band members. Of the many
biographies this one comes closest to being truly accurate.
It focuses also upon the music itself, confirming that Williams
was a natural songwriter and performer like none other. This new
assessment analyzes the Williams legacy by reviewing both the
printed and recorded music and by thorough exploration of the
Williams bibliography and discography.
Bill Koon, a professor of English at Clemson University, is the
editor of Classic Southern Humor.
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