Composer Named for Hank Williams “I Saw The Light” Movie Score

hank-williams-biopic

The highly-anticipated biopic film on the life of Hank Williams that is set to be released later this year has announced who will compose the music score. San Diego native Aaron Zigman, most noted for his work on films such as The Notebook and Sex and the City will be in charge of the score for I Saw The Light, a film based off the Hank Williams biography by Colin Escott, written and directed by Marc Abraham, and starring Tom Hiddleston as Hank Williams. The film was shot in Shreveport, Louisiana in October of 2014 and is currently in post-production.

Aaron Zigman
Aaron Zigman

Aaron Zigman is a 52-year-old songwriter, musician, and composer who began his career writing songs for Carly Simon and co-writing with other songwriters. Zigman has worked with a wide range of performers in the field of arrangement and production, including Ray Charles, Sting, Phil Collins, Chicago, and Christina Aguilera. He began working in film in 2002 on the movie John Q., and later on the highly-acclaimed 2004 film The Notebook. Zigman has worked with The Notebook director Nick Cassavetes on many films, and regularly works with director Tyler Perry. He’s worked on the music of 48 films total during his career.

It was revealed previously that the original songs and recordings from Hank Williams had been licensed by Sony ATV for use in the film, and that the British-born Tom Hiddleston would be singing multiple Hank Williams songs during the movie, potentially “Move It On Over,” “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” and others. Americana artist Rodney Crowell was chosen as the film’s Executive Music Director, and was also assigned to coach Hiddleston on how to sing like Hank.

The selection of Hiddleston drew sharp criticism from some, including Hank Williams III who said of Hiddleston, “You got no soul or moan in your voice” after video surfaced of Hiddleston performing with Crowell at the Wheatland Music Festival in September of 2014.

First Images of Tom Hiddleston as Hank Williams from “I Saw The Light”

The score of a film, different from the soundtrack, is used to set the mood of a movie, though the two audio elements do interface and work together. With the musical aspect of I Saw The Light, and the potential to pull from the Hank Williams songbook as part of the score, Aaron Zigman’s efforts will be an important element in the film.

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