The author left and codriver richard mayer look surprisingly confident for two guys leaving. Hank s daughter jett williams has since clarified the famed last ride story, saying that charles carr was not the only one in the hank. The biography that the cause of death was heart failure caused by the combination of alcohol, morphine and chloral hydrate. I have had this website up for five years and it has continued to grow in many ways during that time, however, i have always intended for the site to be more of an information site and therefore i have not updated in almost a year now.
Nov 05, 2012 jett williams, the daughter of hank williams and coexecutor of his estate was interviewed by joshua morningstar. Cecil who passed away in 2010 commissioned an oil painting of hanks last departure from montgomery his 17yearold driver, the cadillac, and hank which. Channel 26 contacted me at the time about doing the recreation video because of. On the morning of new years day, 1953, near oak hill, west virginia, williams driver stopped to check on his passenger in the back seat, who had been quiet for.
The real hank williams story tyree funeral home oak hill, wv. His driver stopped at a restaurant during their trek and asked williams if he wanted something to eat, which williams declined. However, their trip to charleston was postponed due to bad weather conditions, and so they were forced to cancel the concert and spend the night at. Jul 02, 20 one of the last man to see country music legend hank williams alive, is now dead.
Hank williams was born in september 1923 in a small alabama farming community about 70 miles south of montgomery. He was unlucky in love, not much to look at, an alcoholic and a pill popper. Oct 16, 2019 on the way to a performance during a trip detoured by storms, hank williams passed away. Carr was driving the country star from montgomery, ala. He died in the back seat of his cadillac while being driven to a gig on new years day 1953. In 1964, hank williams was portrayed by george hamilton in the film your cheatin heart. Charles carr told the ajc in 2002 he was the only witness when hank williams died. Hank was poised to perform in a planned new years eve show in charleston, w. What happened at the andrew johnson hotel that may have killed. Williams was taken to a west virginia hospital and he was officially declared dead at 7. He also lit up his body with alcohol, cocaine, morphine, chloral hydrate, and heroin. Hank williams last ride was 64 years ago mystery still. The strange circumstances surrounding hank williams death quickly. Charles carr, the young driver hired to take hank williams from montgomery, al to a show in canton, oh, died after a brief illness at his home in montgomery.
After taking his prescription, williams left with charles carr, a college student who also posed as his driver. Editoratlarge peter egan retraced country singer hank williams final. Hank died in the back seat of his 1952 cadillac as he was being driven to a gig. The hank williams museum was founded by cecil jackson, who as a handy teenager had rotated the tires on the car a week before hank s last ride. For other people named hank williams, see hank williams disambiguation. Hank williams death remains somewhat of a mystery to this day.
Country music legend hank williams left montgomery, alabama, on december 30, 1952, in a baby blue cadillac convertible with an 17yearold college student whom hed hired as his driver to take him to performances in charleston, west virginia and canton, ohio. Some biographies have speculated that williams died at a knoxville hotel and that porters unwittingly placed his corpse in his car for the trip north. Sometime early on new years morning in 1953, country music star hank williams died in the back seat of his 1952 cadillac. Stars bring hanks lost notebooks to life hank williams. Feb 19, 2016 editoratlarge peter egan retraced country singer hank williams final journey for this twopart story. Dec 31, 2002 at the wheel was charles carr, a college freshman on christmas break from auburn. Devildriver recruit hank 3 for outlaws til the end album. Uncovering the mystery behind hank williams death country. He was driving hank williams, 29, who died that night. Initially, his awaiting fans did not believe hank williams had died. Sep 18, 2019 hank williams became one of americas first country music superstars, with hits like your cheatin heart, before his early death at 29.
Jan 07, 2016 around 1988 wtvk channel 26 in knoxville, tn had a series of videos they did on country music. Williams was an american singersongwriter and musician regarded as one of the most significant country. The man in the back seat was singersongwriter hank williams sr. Williams was in desperate need of a driver to get him to the package shows in charleston and canton. This is the most comprehensive hank williams website on the net.
Lyrics to lowdown truck driver by hank williams sr well im a lowdown truck driver eighteen wheels and an easy rider lord have mercy lord have mercy on my weary soul well im a burnin down this highway baby. Asked whether folks in spanishburg ever talk of hank williams last ride, valley patron drema hall said. Williams was an american singersongwriter and musician regarded as one of the most significant country music artists of all time. Hanks hired driver for the trip was an 18yearold auburn university. Upon arriving in oak hill in the early hours of jan. Hank williams is considered one of the most popular american country music singersongwriters with songs like cold, cold heart, your cheatin heart, hey, good lookin and ill never get out. The circumstances of williams s death are still controversial.
On january 1st 1953, hank williams was scheduled to perform a new years show in canton, oh. His father was a railroad engineer who was also a victim of shell shock after a year of fighting in france in 1918 during world war i and spent many years in veterans hospitals. Hank s mother, lillian skipper williams, played the. Jett williams on hanks lost notebooks clarifies hanks. Editoratlarge peter egan retraced country singer hank williams final journey for this twopart story. The exact cause of death, and what happened in the last 48 hours of his life will perhaps never really be known. Hanks driver who still lives in montgomery and was. Author colin escott concluded in his book hank williams. Sometime early on new years morning in 1953, country music star hank williams died in the back seat of his 1952 cadillac convertible near oak hill, west virginia. Long before there was janis joplin or jimi hendrix or kurt cobain or even.
Hank williams last ride dick and danna our weblog of. They did one on hank sr and the story of his last day. Driver recalls hank williams last ride part 2 of 2 cmt. The real hank williams story tyree funeral home oak. Charles carr, who was just 18 and a college freshman when he drove country music legend hank williams on his final journey more than 60. Mar 21, 2016 for immediate releasefile this is an undated file photo of country and western singer and guitarist hank williams. Around 1988 wtvk channel 26 in knoxville, tn had a series of videos they did on country music. When the driver was stopped for speeding, the policeman noticed that hank looked like a dead man.
The result of the original autopsy indicated that williams died of a heart attack. Though he had a beautiful new car, the singer was in rough shape. Truck drivin man ten ton load 1966 album country shadows. Hank williams daughter retraces route of country legends. Dec 27, 2017 hank williams last ride was 64 years ago mystery still surrounds troubadours last days. I wont be home no more the death of hank williams by maura kistler new years day 1953 dawned cold and gray in the town of oak hill, fayette county. Hank williams cadillac 5 famous death cars where are.
Hank williams tabs, chords, guitar, bass, ukulele chords, power tabs and guitar pro tabs including hey good lookin, honky tonk blues, cold cold heart, a mansion on the hill, blues man. Hank williams tragic new years day the daily beast. Over the years, holly williams never felt much of a connection to her grandfather. Jett had some interesting things to say about the lost notebooks of hank williams project that matched unfinished hank songs with contemporary performers, and also clarified some information about the circumstances surrounding her fathers death. Williams was born with a mild undiagnosed case of spina bifida occulta, a disorder of the spinal column, which gave him lifelong paina factor in his later abuse. Hank died at the age of twentynine, just a few days after christmas in 1952. Dec 31, 2012 the bluestones overpass at spanishburg, w. Apr 22, 2017 did andrew johnson hotel kill hank williams sr. Hank williams death car, montgomery, alabama roadside america. He stopped in bristol, tn and picked up a relief driver named donald surface. Memorial bridge, and the valley general store next to it sells coffee for 35 cents. Just before sunrise on new years day 50 years ago, a sleek babyblue cadillac roared up to the rural oak hill, w. Hank williams is a star equally remembered for his important contributions to music and his tragic lifestyle. In the back seat lay country music superstar hank williams, dead for several hours, probably from an accidental overdose of morphine and whiskey.
With countless hit songs under his belt and a huge list of artists hes inspired, its undeniable that williams is not only one of the most important country artists of all time, but one of the most important musicians period. This refusal is believed to be the last sentence he spoke. So when she slipped on a pair of white gloves and lifted one of hank williams old spiralbound notebooks to inspect its pages full of careful cursive script recently at the country music hall of fame and museum, she was a little bit startled to feel. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential american singers and songwriters of the 20th century, williams recorded 35 singles five released. Williams got into the backseat of the cadillac allegedly with a bottle of whiskey, and the teenage chauffeur headed out for canton.
Hank williams daughter retraces route of country legend. Driver recalls hank williams last ride part 2 of 2. In 1987, he was inducted in the rock and roll hall of fame under the category early influence. One of the most important artists in the history of recorded music, hank williams seemed to arrive fully formed into the postsecond world war countrymusic landscape. Hiram hank williams september 17, 1923 january 1, 1953 was an american singersongwriter and musician. Mar 27, 2018 metal band devildriver will release outlaws til the end, an outlawcountry tribute album with guests like hank williams iii, in july. But in the end it doesnt really matter, hank williams was dead at 29 years old. Just before dawn on new years day, 1953, a baby blue cadillac pulled into the pure oil gas station on the south end of oak hill. Nov 12, 2011 the hillbilly shakespeare, as the media sometimes called hank williams, lit up those old tube radios like no one before or since. The songwriters 29yearold heart turned cold, cold sometime on the last night of 1952 as his driver, charles carr, tried to get the star. The prolific musician and performer wrote songs such as your cheatin heart, drank too much whiskey, had family problems.
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