Hank Williams Remembered During 100th Birthday Ceremony
What would the world of music sound like if we disappeared the legacy of Hank Williams? Would country music have made as big of a mark as it did back in Hank’s day and thereafter, and still be around today as one of the most popular genres of music? How would it affect rock, the blues, and all of popular music? These are the deep questions that the Centennial of the birth of Hank Williams allows us to ponder.
100 years ago today, September 17th, 1923, Hank Williams was born to humble means in the small rural community of Mount Olive, Alabama. He learned to sing in a little church there, and was raised in the town of Georgiana from 1930 to 1934 where his boyhood home is still preserved as a museum. Hank also lived in Greenville Alabama from 1934 to 1937. Then it was on to the big city for Hank, which in Central Alabama is Montgomery.
Montgomery, Alabama is where Hank Williams began his career in earnest. It’s where he continued to be taught by his mentor Rufus “Tee-Tot” Payne. It’s also where he would be buried in 1953 at the age of 29 after dying tragically in the back of his powder blue Cadillac that sits in the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery.
Sunday morning, September 17th, ceremonial wreaths were laid at the grave of Hank Williams at the Oakwood Cemetery commemorating the moment of his birth. Hundreds gathered to hear multiple speakers and songs under the cloudy skies that ceased raining for the occasion. The granddaughter of Hank Williams and critically-acclaimed songwriter/performer Holly Williams was in attendance, along with Leona Williams, Zachariah Malachi who was scheduled to perform later in the day, and multiple other performers.
Holly Williams who now lives in Montgomery was there with her four children, and addressed the crowd on behalf of the Hank Williams family.
“Of all the things that Hank brought to this world is unity and harmony,” Holly said. “I love seeing literally all walks of life here, people from everywhere, who think different, listen to different music, from all over the world, from all different places, young and old, and the joy that he brought to all of us, and the harmony and the community he brought through simple, plain English that touched all our hearts. The Hillbilly Shakespeare as they called him.”
Holly also explained how Sam Williams was in Nashville performing Saturday at the Grand Ole Opry to represent the Williams family, and her sister and fellow performer Hilary was also in Nashville with Sam. Holly also said she knew a lot of people were fans of his brother Hank Williams III who has been quite reclusive as of late. She said Hank3 was doing well, and that she was closer to him now more than ever before.
A funny moment ensued when Holly explained why her father Hank Williams Jr. was not there. Bocephus was recently married and is currently on his honeymoon, and one of Holly’s kids couldn’t resist saying how many times her grandfather had been married.
The event commenced at about 9:00 AM Sunday morning, and was hosted by Jeff and Beth Petty of the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery. The museum was founded 25 years ago by Cecil and Betty Jackson. Betty unfortunately passed away earlier this week.
Arnold Sheppard—who is related to Hank’s widow Audrey Sheppard Williams, performed multiple songs with his grandsons Morgan Brown and Weston Brown, including “(I’m Gonna) Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” and of course “I Saw The Light,” which concluded the ceremony.
The 100th Anniversary of the birth of Hank Williams was just observed at the Hank Williams Grave and Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. Many friends, fans, and family gathered to mark the Hank Williams Centennial.
— Saving Country Music (@KyleCoroneos) September 17, 2023
Much more to come… pic.twitter.com/geWjCDYVy5
David Azbell also read and presented an official proclamation from the Alabama legislature, honoring Hank Williams on the occasion of his 100th birthday. It was only due to the legislature being in special session that Azbell was able to get the proclamation secured. His father Joe Azbell had reported on the Hank Williams funeral, and was initially reprimanded from running a special edition of the paper. When the edition sold out multiple times, he ended up being promoted.
Local religious leader Rabbi Ben was also there to offer a prayer and a Hank Williams story. When people ask him why a Jewish Rabbi participates in so many Christian-based events, he tells them, “Like Hank Williams, I saw the light.”
The festivities on Sunday came in a long line of commemorations marking the birth of Hank Williams. On the 50th Anniversary of Hank’s birth in (1973), Audrey Williams ordered 20 dozen roses to be delivered to Hank’s grave. On the 75th Anniversary of Hank’s birth (1998), the Country Music Hall of Fame unveiled a bronze statue of Hank Williams. In attendance were Hank’s two children, Hank Williams Jr. and Jett Williams. This is the first time the two met in person.
Hank’s legacy is still going strong in Alabama and beyond. Driving up to Montgomery from Greenville and Georgiana, you take the Hank Williams Memorial “Lost” Highway— the nickname given to both Interstate 65, as well as Highway 31, which is the actual highway that Hank drove. This is where you can feel the ghost of Hank Williams if you drive it on a foggy night, just like the night of September 16th, 2023 was. If you listen to the Hank tribute song “The Ride,” you will especially feel a chill.
The memorial at the Hank Williams grave was part of scores of events all across the world marking the Hank Williams Centennial, including performances in Montgomery at the Davis Theater on Sunday headlined by Gene Watson. The Country Music Hall of Fame will also hold an event on Thursday, September 21st.
September 17, 2023 @ 2:44 pm
Happy Birthday 🎂 Hank! Wish you were here to have seen it. Holly is a true treasure & has kind of taken the handle of patriarch for the Williams family in the last decade & it’s good to hear that her & Hank 3 are forming a bond. Hank just didn’t put country music on the map but transformed all music in the process from Tony Bennett singing “Cold, Cold Heart” to influencing talents like Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Gram Parsons, The Eagles, & many many more. Hank is truly special amazing voice & songwriter…nobody could write a song like Hank. As the great Little Jimmy “Tater” Dickens once said “He could write a song that would make you laugh your butt off then turn around and write a ballad that would rip the heart out of your chest.” And Hank had a way of taking something that could be unbearable & seem to be able to make it bearable, not many musicians have that talent or ability.
September 17, 2023 @ 3:29 pm
Sam just released a cover of I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.
September 18, 2023 @ 4:53 pm
This topic is about Hank, not his no-talent grandson.
September 17, 2023 @ 4:41 pm
Good pictures. Captured the beauty of the day.
Glad you were able to go.
Saw this video a couple days ago, & have been wanting to share.
Think it is hauntingly beautiful.
And, perhaps it does have the tiniest of place here, in this article of remembering Hank Williams.
https://youtu.be/lwLLFbC1H0c?si=aZJiNn6gn6O8BtqU
September 17, 2023 @ 4:42 pm
It’s Jeff & Beth Petty, not Jim.
September 17, 2023 @ 4:57 pm
Seems to me that because Junior has been so larger-than-life for so many years and is seen as something of a caricature for the way he has invoked “Hank Williams” and “my Daddy” in so much of his music, he made the decision to step back and let later descendents carry the torch for Hank Williams remembrances from here on.
I think it was a smart idea.
BTW, what happened to Jett Williams? Is she involved in any of this?
September 17, 2023 @ 5:55 pm
Beth is a sweetheart. I went down there last year, and I was very impressed with how everything is held up for his legacy.
September 17, 2023 @ 7:54 pm
Semi-related but my biggest “What if?” in country music history is how Hank Williams would have reacted to rock’n’roll had he lived a few more years. Would he have continued to carry the torch for traditional honky-tonk? Would he lean into his poetic side more? Would he have pulled a Ray Price and adapted to the Nashville Sound? (I can’t hear it but a likely outcome.) Or considering the pervasive blues influence in his music would he have jumped on the rockabilly train himself?-“Rock Around the Clock” is arguably derivative of “Move It On Over”. If he did try the rock’n’roll route he would have certainly done it from a more adult and lyrically sophisticated place than the 50’s rockers; does that mean rock would have developed along entirely different lines because of his influence- perhaps he precedes Bob Dylan as the guy who introduces serious lyrics to rock. I could see any of these stories playing out, perhaps some better than others.
September 17, 2023 @ 10:25 pm
LUKE THE DRIFTER , YOU got that right – yes sir – HANK WILLIAMS would have been more “adult ” or mature in HIS songwriting if HE had lived longer and written songs in the more rock and roll manner- But then again HE may have been THE ONE that actually would have started the new direction in pop music which was to eventually be called ROCK and ROLL- And Elvis as well as a lot of others at the time would have not surfaced because they all would have been too in awe of the Great HANK – !
September 18, 2023 @ 7:32 am
Luke,
Gotta weigh in on this one. Purists be forewarned, I’m gonna anger you, but I have thick skin and broad shoulders.
Yes, I believe Hank Sr was the original rockabilly influencer. His own son Bocephus has called him that. To me the line between honky- tonk and rockabilly is blurred. It really comes down to slapping an upright bass. ( and the time signature) Most honky- tonk can be played in the 12 bar blues form with bar chords, essentially emulating a boogie- woogie piano style. Listen to Hey Good Lookin’ , Kawliga, Move it on Over, Mind Your Own Business and others. In those songs lie the roots of rockabilly. Not saying the bass was slapped in the Hank songs, but you can play them as 12 bar. For reference, numerous people have rocked Hanks tunes. Just a couple examples, George Thorogood did Move it on Over, Lee Rocker did a rockabilly slapped take on Lost Highway, Jerry Lee boogie- woogied quite a few Hank songs, Jr has rocked out Kawliga, Mind Your Own Business, Honky- Tonkin and others.
Some of the early Honky- Tonkers absolutely played rockabilly. George Jones reluctantly did a few sides as ” Thumper Jones”, though he hated it. Conway Twitty recorded some singles under the name Harold Jenkins that were rockabilly. I had a memorable conversation in a dive bar with the great Sleepy Labeef and I was asking him about playing on the Louisiana Hayride with folks like Elvis and Johnny Horton. Sleepy referred to Horton as ” one of the early rockabilly’s.” Listen to Wild One, Honky- Tonk Hardwood Floor , Ole Slewfoot, Sals got a Sugar Lip, Golden Rocket, I’m Comin Home, and you will hear rockabilly. Elvis of course has gotten credit for the style but he wasn’t the first by any means, in fact a few recordings of Carl Perkins surfaced from 1953- 1954 of Carl doing some rocked up R& B numbers that Elvis later recorded! Yeah, that was a big deal because everyone thought Elvis did it first….wrong. It should be said that all these folks considered Hank an influence. Hank was the most influential figure period. ( you could put Jimmie Rodgers in the discussion, but Hank eclipsed him.)
Back to Lucky’s speculation about if Hank had lived, what would his style have evolved into? I think he would have continued to write amazing songs, and I believe that given the popularity in the 50s of folks like Webb Pierce, Ray Price and The Cherokee Cowboys and Ernest Tubb, Hank would have been right there riding the wave. That said I don’t think Hank would’ve ever leaned more to the rock side, he was much more ” billy” , but again he influenced rockabilly, however unintentional it may have been.
September 17, 2023 @ 10:17 pm
HANK WILLIAMS – NEVER DID DIE – HE JUST PASSED AWAY – I FEEL HIS SPIRIT – IN SO MANY WAYS – HE IS ROCK AND ROLL – HE IS THE BLUES – HE IS ROCKABILLY – HE IS COUNTRY MUSIC – HE STAYS WITH US YEAR AFTER YEAR – DECADE AFTER DECADE – HE STARTED THE WHOLE ROCK AND ROLL IMAGE – THE HATS – THE SIDEBURNS – THE CARS – THE PILLS – THE BOOZE – THE OVERALL DIRECTION OF WHERE IT WOUND UP GOING IN IS WHAT HE DID – HANK WILLIAMS NEVER DID DIE !
September 18, 2023 @ 2:28 am
https://x.com/OfficialJackson/status/1703446728140009695?s=20
We need Alan to release a cover of Hank songs.
September 18, 2023 @ 7:24 am
Happy 100th birthday,Hiram !!!!!!! (You never really died;your music and spirit will ALWAYS be with us.Incidentally,my Aunt Ruth McGee Turner’s Indianola,Miss. grade school classmate,one Riley [as she addressed him] B. King,was born 98 years ago Saturday.)
September 18, 2023 @ 10:19 pm
I was there.
It was a beautiful morning of words, singing, prayer and remembrance.
Hank Williams and his music will always be with us, and the love that was shown for him at his resting place, was more than proof of that.
George Vreeland Hill
September 19, 2023 @ 9:20 am
Looks like you did ole Hank really proud! His music still brings joy and solace to young and old. May that never change.
September 21, 2023 @ 7:43 pm
I was there, at the grave. I thought those kids were really sweet. After the ceromony, I even got to perform right next to Hank’s grave. It was so cool, and something I will never ever forget!