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.
