Sometimes when you’re listening to Hank Williams sing, you are taken to another place. Whether one of his own songs, or a traditional hymn, or someone else’s composition, something happens.You are engulfed with an overwhelming pall of understanding that you are in the presence of an artist who is exploring human experience and emotion at a level only the most profound poets and musicians ever reach.
But you still have to ask, why is Hank Williams stature growing year by year in the 21st century?
The simple answer is this: year by year it’s becoming more and more about his works. No artist has received a worse deal from writers, biographers, and reviewers in the years following his death than Hank Williams. It was tabloid plus journalism. And because he lived and worked in what they called ‘hillbilly music’ he did not receive the serious attention as a poet and performer he should have received from the start.
I’m not saying these writers said things which were not true or never happened. But the point is balance. The works got lost. Remember Hank s repoutation through the ages will be based solely on his works. The stories and scandals will disappear in the in mists of history. And already we can the works grow as the life details recede from view. What the Pulitzer panel understood is that Hank Williams’ status as a world artist is finally established and will now continue to grow through the decades and indeed centuries to come.
I also believe that we are in a musical era that has a critical mass of fans who value songwriting. It’s taken decades to build, but it’s happened. That one of the centers of contemporary songwriting is Austin, a city that also values traditional country music, has definitely helped.
Contemporary singer/songwriters understand Williams’ greatness as songwriter and are covering him on their albums and in concert. I just saw Patty Griffin, for example, perform a memorable version of “House of Gold,” one of the highlights of the concert.
FWIW, that’s the first thought that came to me when seeing the question. Hank Williams’s song writing is so very good. The lyrics then combined with his voice and deliveru = immortality.
Love, C.
Thanks K
Great point on the value of songwriting. Your point dove tails with the Wall Street Journal quote above on how Hank’s songwriting has has broadened his appeal to different genres and allowed him to escape the suffocation of the current country scene.
I guess in a way he’s been able to follow these songwriters, Dylan and many more, as they spread around the world.
Cash was a pretty authentic songwriter too, and was able to become a international figure largely on this reputation I think.
John W
Hello,
I just stumbled upon your great website, and I want to thank for all the effort you have made to create and maintain this for all us “Hank” (and”Luke”) fans. I joined the fan club in January and it’s been a genuine pleasure to have started a friendship with such great Hank fans, as Bob Gardiner from Niagara Falls, Bob Ackerman in Alaska and George Merritt in Huntsville Alabama. Have you heard any thing about the book about to be released. I have started to really listen to Hank in the last 2 years, and I have come to realize he is THE greatest singer/songwriter of any genre of ALL time and like many,many others he has touched my heart & soul. I am 49 yrs old, operate my own company in Ontario Canada, and I have played professionally as a musician for many years. I live in Peterborough Ontario and I am currently doing archival research for the Fan club about Hank playing in Ontario, as a matter of fact he played in my hometown here in Peterborough. I am trying to find out the date(s?). If you get a chance to respond to this E-Mail that would be great, but if not again thank you very much and keep up the good work!
Kind Regards,
Shane.