The Hank Williams Reader

353 Pages·2014·6.94 MB·English

the hank williams reader
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Readers on American Musicians
Scott DeVeaux, Series Editor
The Hank Williams Reader
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Edited by Patrick Huber, Steve Goodson,
and David M. Anderson
1
1
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The Hank Williams reader / edited by Patrick Huber,
Steve Goodson, and David M. Anderson.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-19-974319-3 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Williams, Hank, 1923–1953—Criticism and interpretation.
2. Country music—History and criticism.
3. Country musicians—United States.
I. Huber, Patrick. II. Goodson, Steve.
III. Anderson, David M. (David Myrwin)
ML420.W55H36 2014
782.421642092—dc23 2013018074
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
For Katie, Genevieve, and William,
whose love and many sacrifices made this book possible
—PH
In memory of my father, Howard Goodson (1927–2003),
who saw him perform, stood outside at the funeral, and introduced me
to the music
—SG
For my dear friend and teacher, Jay Coughtry,
thank you for changing my life
—DMA

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Contents
A Note about Editorial Policies xi
Introduction 3
PART I
“King of the Hillbillies”: Chronicling Hank Williams During
His Lifetime (1947–1953) 17
1. William E. Cleghorn: Hank Williams Rides on Down Trail
of National Popularity on Air Records (1947) 19
2. Reverend A. S. Turnipseed: Pulpit Echoes (1947) 22
3. Allen Rankin: ’Cause Hank Is Moving In, Move It Over,
Big Time (1948) 24
4. Gene L. Roe: Got “Lovesick Blues”? No Sir, Not Hank Williams
(1950) 27
5. Gold in Them Hillbillies (1951) 29
6. Golden Oatunes: H. Williams Clefs 22 Hillbilly Toppers (1951) 32
7. Hank Has a Method: Williams Tells How and Why His Disks
Click (1951) 34
8. Rufus Jarman: Country Music Goes to Town (1953) 35
9. Audrey Mae Williams and Hank Williams: Excerpts from Divorce
Complaint and Defendant’s Answer and Cross-Bill in Audrey Mae
Williams vs. Hank Williams, Et Al. (1952) 38
10. Edith Lindeman: Hank Williams Hillbilly Show Is Different
(1952) 47
11. Famous Song Composer Is Arrested Here (1952) 49
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vii
viii | Contents
PART II
“Hank, It Will Never Be the Same without You”: Mourning the Death of Hank
Williams (January–February 1953) 51
12. Mystery Shrouds Death of Singer Hank Williams (1953) 54
13. H. B. Teeter: Hank Williams Had Premonition of Death (1953) 56
14. Joe Azbell: Hank’s Funeral Is Far Largest in All Montgomery’s History
(1953) 60
15. Selected Newspaper Editorials (1953) 65
16. Allen Rankin: So Long, Hank. Hear You Later (1953) 69
17. Selected Letters to the Editor (1953) 73
18. Frank Walker: Letter to Hank Williams (1953) 77
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PART III
“Hank Williams Won’t Die”: The Legend Emerges (1953–1964) 81
19. Audrey Williams (as told to the Montgomery Advertiser): Hank’s First Wife
Tells Up and Downs of Marriage (1953) 84
20. Mrs. W. W. Stone (with Allen Rankin): Excerpt from Our Hank Williams,
“The Drifting Cowboy,” as Told by His Mother to Allen Rankin (1953) 87
21. Was Singer a Suicide? (1953) 91
22. Eli Waldron: The Death of Hank Williams (1955) 95
23. Sanford Mabrie: The Strange Life and Death of Hank Williams (1955) 101
24. Ed Linn: The Short Life of Hank Williams (1957) 107
25. Irene Williams Smith: Three “Hank’s Corner” Columns from Country
Song Roundup (1955–1957) 111
26. Charlie Lamb: Liner Notes to Hank Williams’ Greatest Hits (1961) 115
27. Stanford Whitmore: Excerpt from the Screenplay for Your Cheatin’
Heart (1964) 117
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PART IV
Bringing the Legend to Life: The Search for the “Real”
Hank Williams (1965–1974) 123
28. Bill C. Malone: Excerpt from Country Music, U.S.A.: A Fifty-Year History
(1968) 126
29. Joe Azbell: No Direction Signs Exist (1968) 129
30. Ralph J. Gleason: Perspectives: Hank Williams, Roy Acuff and Then God!!
(1969) 133
Contents | ix
31. Roger M. Williams: Excerpt from Sing a Sad Song: The Life of Hank
Williams (1970) 138
32. David Halberstam: Hank Williams Remembered (1971) 143
33. Irene Williams Smith: My Treasured Life with a Beloved Brother
(1972) 147
34. Harry E. Rockwell: Excerpt from Beneath the Applause (A Story about
Country & Western Music and Its Stars—Written by a Fan) (1973) 152
35. Henry Pleasants: Excerpt from The Great American Popular Singers
(1974) 158
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PART V
Scenes from the Lost Highway: Shedding Light on the Dark Side
(1975–1984) 165
36. Greil Marcus: Excerpt from Mystery Train: Images of America in
Rock ’n’ Roll Music (1975) 169
37. Billie Jean Horton: Fear and Loathing at Hank’s Funeral (1976) 174
38. Michael Bane: Excerpt from The Outlaws: Revolution in Country Music
(1978) 178
39. Al Bock: Excerpt from I Saw the Light: The Gospel Life of Hank Williams
(1977) 181
40. Hank Williams, Jr. (with Michael Bane): Excerpt from Living Proof:
An Autobiography (1979) 184
41. Minnie Pearl (with Joan Dew): Excerpt from Minnie Pearl:
An Autobiography (1980) 188
42. Chet Flippo: Excerpt from Your Cheatin’ Heart: A Biography of Hank
Williams (1981) 194
43. John Morthland: Excerpt from The Best of Country Music (1984) 199
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PART VI
“Gone But Not Forgotten Blues”: Entering the American Mainstream
(1985–1994) 205
44. Kent Blaser: “Pictures from Life’s Other Side”: Hank Williams, Country
Music, and Popular Culture in America (1985) 208
45. Richard Leppert and George Lipsitz: “Everybody’s Lonesome for
Somebody”: Age, the Body and Experience in the Music of Hank Williams
(1990) 212