Cincinnati deserves a lot of credit for keeping alive the memory of Hank Williams. This is especially true for the group that has worked to preserve the historic Herzog Recording Studio in that city.
Hank Williams traveled to Ohio to for two recording sessions. The first produced ‘Lovesick Blues’ the song that made him a national singing star. The second session yielded ”I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’ one of his greatest self penned songs and the one that established and preserves his poetic gifts for all time.
Tonight (Aug 30, 2010) local artists Dallas Moore and Jody Payne long time Willie Nelson guitarist will put on a show called “Hank to Thank” and record a CD and DVD live at the historic second floor studio. Proceeds from the sale of tickets will go to the preservation of the studio. This is the only studio where Hank Williams recorded professionally which is still standing.
And today marks 61 years to the day that Hank recorded “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “A House Without Love,” “I Just Don’t Like This Kind of Livin'” and “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It”, eight months after his first Herzog session in which the historic ‘Lovesick Blues was recorded over the objections of producer Fred Rose at the time.
Back on August 3rd the Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation announced that it had signed a one year lease for the second floor at 811 Race Street, the former home of the E.T. Herzog Recording Co., with a $10,000 anonymous grant made through the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. The Music Heritage Foundation plans to turn the space into its headquarters and use it for recordings, performances and exhibits.
Here’s the latest article from the Cincinnati newspaper website.
I have written three earlier posts on the Herzog Studio. They can be found here.
A Hank Williams Journal 
I am very pleased that they are making another movie on Hank Williams. Maybe this one will be better scripted and acted then the 1964 one. I have always thought that Hanks grandson, Shelton would be the perfect one to star as his grandfather as to the fact that he looks a lot like him and his voice is also simular. My mother went to see Hank in Cincinnati at the crosley Field in 1951 while he was touring with Bob Hope, and I have always wondered where the studio was located that Hank recorded at in Cincinnati. I thought it was at the King studios and have heard that it was located just off Spring grove avenue in the Camp Washington area of Cincinnati. I have seen the few live video shots of Hank and theres one where He’s walking across a street in a city, and was just wondering if anyone knows just where that piece of film was shot? I am a life long fan of Hank and have visited many places that I knew for fact that Hank had been, All around Montgomery, Georgiana,Greenville, Nashville,Knoxville, and even Oakhill WV, but the most haunting experience Ive had besides when I stood and looked at that baby blue Caddy was the trip I took tracing the last ride of Hank Williams from Knoxville up 11W to Oakhill!
Hi Daniel
Thanks for your informative and thoughtful contribution.
I certainly would welcome more of your comments on Hank.
John W
Hi Daniel:
I am pretty sure the video you are referring to is of Hank crossing the street with a police officer in New York City. You can see Radio City Music Hall on his right.
It was shot on one of three visits he made to NYC. The first visit was for the Perry Como Show in Nov 1951 (I believe). The second two trips were for Grand Ole Opry performances in March and April of 1952. I am not sure which visit the video was taken on. Does anyone know?
I’m a true Hank Williams, Sr. fan. He was the Shakespeare of country music, proven by the songs he wrote & performed so well. I am very interested in any movies about him & will definitely attend them. He had so much feeling in his voice, which shows how much he cared about people & about doing the best he could in each performance. I also admire his son, Hank Williams, Jr. for keeping his father’s music alive. He is doing a wonderful job. I can’t wait to see the movie of his life that is being made.
Glad to hear of these new films in production on Hank,as the 1964 movie did indeed play rather loosely with the facts.
I have done a great deal of research on Hank over the years. Two things facinate me about Hank’s life story:
The woman who undoubtedly helped to make him was ultimately his undoing as well.
When did he peak and what led to his downfall. His career obviously peaked in the Fall of 1951 (probably on the day that MGM signed him to a movie contract). The beginning of the end likely began the day he hurt his back while hunting with Jerry Rivers. Even though he drank heavily during an extremely difficult year (1951) he managed to pull through nearly everytime. The back injury undoubtedly brought pain killers into the mix along with his drinking binges. Throw Toby Marshall into the mis with a few other toxic drugs and the end was inevitable. Whether or not Audry could have saved him is difficult to say. If you have ever dealt with an alcoholic you will know that it’s nearly impossible to save someone from themselves. Now imagine trying to save someone who is mixing alcohol and drugs on a daily basis.
David
Thanks for your comment. Very insightful. I have always thought that Hank biographers have seriously downplayed the impact of a serious back condition on Hank’s life. They have somehow blamed a weakness of character instead of serious illness for Hank’s decline. Certainly it was a combination.
I hope you have checked out my post on Hank’s surgery.
https://ahankwilliamsjournal.wordpress.com/2010/05/28/back-surgery-cancels-concert-tour-bono-not-hank/
John W