Customer Reviews

Hank Williams: The Biography

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just finished reading this biography of Mr. Williams, and came away feeling very sad for Hank and his son Hank, Jr. Although the book chronicles the real contributions that Hank's mother and wife Audrey made in starting his career, the two women seemed to use Hank as a gravy train, with little love shown for this sad, lonely man. Particularly disgusting was the vulture like behavior exhibited immediately following his tragic death. Thank heaven he had Billie Jean, if even for a short while. She seems to be the only woman in his life that really loved him. Between his back pain and loneliness, it's no wonder he drank.

There was a lot of interesting detail in the book, sometimes too much info for my taste. Mr. Escott went into exhausting detail giving the background of practically every soul Hank ever met. It also seemed Mr. Escott disliked Roy Acuff, which I found interesting, since he has always been portrayed as a virtual saint. Also, Mr. Escott's descriptions of what would have become of Hank and his career had he lived were very interesting, and probably true.

I wish Hank, Jr. could have known his father, it was obvious that Hank loved him, but addictions and circumstance kept them apart.

I'll listen to Hank's music with a much deeper knowledge of the pain that influenced his songs.

Except for Jesus Christ and Robert E. Lee, no other person has affected the conscious and unconscious mind of the average Southerner as has Hank Williams.

Colin Escott's biography is less sentimental and more sensationalized than Roger Williams', but is it really more detailed? After all, you can only get so much material within a given number of pages. Nevertheless, every time you re-read this book, you pick up facts and suggestions you never noticed before.
Of course, this is necessarily true with such a complex man, a genius in his field, and whose life and death were mysterious.

My favorite anecdote concerning Hank is missing from both books and is related by his steel guitarist, Don Helms: Once, playing an outdoor venue, it began to rain on Hank and his band. Hank and the band retreated to a covered stage area, where they continued the show. Looking over the audience, who were getting soaked, Hank had compassion on his musical followers, and returned to the rain. "If you're good enough to listen to me in the rain, I'm good enough to play for you in the rain!" And he did.

There you have it--a man with godlike qualities but yet a complete lack of pretense and who cared for his listeners like no one ever has. This is why you should pick up a copy of this for yourself and a copy to pass down to your grandchildren. We should never let this man's memory die.

This is the only biography of Hank Williams ( other than that by his daughter, Lycretia, and DAle Vinnicur) to come out in the last decade of so that doesn't reek of "only in it for the money." It is well researched (Mr. Escott managed to interview nearly everyone still living who knew Hank Williams, and the unedited interviews would probably make for a great book on their own) and, fortunately, puts the music ahead of the personal life while discussing the man. Also, there is little of the smugness that one frequently finds in books written about country performers, for which fans can be grateful. A well structured, readable book that contains enough new information to keep all but the most well-versed (bad joke, I know) Hank Williams fans entertained.

I have read several other biographies,over the years regarding Hank Williams,and folks I am here to tell you this is the one to read!The intense research that went into this work is well translated into the facts behind Hank Willaim's life.In fact the book does an excellent job of correcting many of the misconceptions and myths associated with Hank's life.One especially noteworthy example of this is the story behind Lon Williams-Hank's father.For years I had heard the story that Lon had died in a VA hosptal back in the early 30's,due to some old WWI wounds.In fact Hank contributes to this notion in the final lyrics of"The Log Train" when he alludes to his father's demise.The author's research establishes that Lon Williams actually lived til the early 1970's,surviving Hank,his sister Irene and their mother Lillie. Whether you are a scholar,a historian or a fan this is the book to have in your collection.

Hank left very little documented about his personal self, outside of what was projected in his songs. Also, few to none can or could claim to actually "know" the man, his deepest thoughts and emotions. It is clear to fans of Hank that this is where his story is. I give Escott much credit for digging for all the fine detailed facts he could find on Williams, and that is what the books reads like, a cognitive listing of scarce facts, and leaves a mental picture of Hank only as a simple alcoholic. No soul or emotion that drove Hank. Nothing was said about his performing presence. The magic he had with his audiences. Nothing about the precursor sex appeal and body movements that set the stage for the modern performers in the electronic age that followed him. Nothing about that revoluntary precise driving sound. Escrow downplayed the impact of Williams had he lived. His death created a legend, but trying to predict the what if's is anyones quess. I personaly believe Hank would have impacted the rock and roll age. Maybe not in the role that we know him from 1949 to 53, but I don't believe he would have met the fate of others during his time, when rock and roll took over. He had far to much talent for that. I'll give Escott credit in digging into the circumstances of Hank's death and acknowledging there are things missing, but a lot was left unsaid. From the day Hank died to this day, generations of his fans, only by past me down word of mouth, feel that Hank was driven to death by the establishment. He fought them in a disfunctional and distructive way. It is the age old story of a poor boy with exceptional God given talent used by the rich or greedy until there is nothing physicaly left, then left to die. One can get a picture of a dead man being driven to a concert come hell or high water in the hopes of the high dollar. No one cared to say to take him to a hospital when it would have counted. Don't misunderstand, Hank did not want help then or before, and that was the part of the story that should read like a greek tragedy, but doesn't. Also, Hank was the original hell raiser that few of the following rock stars could dare to keep up with. These stories are missing. It is the least credit to Escott to miss the following; the real bond between his fans- past, present and no doubt the future. Escott did not feel the man who pronouced invertation for invitation could survive. He missed the fact. This down to earth- direct in your face- realness of Hank is his soul and what is loved about him then and now from Alabama to New York City and from London to Tokyo. His death was just a cognitive detail. The emotion never died. It is yet to be captured in a book. The real Hank is still a mystery.

In his short life, Hank messed up plenty. But as Escott writes, "Through it all, Hank never messed up in the recording studio. He was charmed like a man walking through a minefield." It's the songs, those beautiful and aching songs, that get the most attention in this balanced biography. While he can't avoid the binges, backaches, and bust ups with Miss Audrey that left the legend little more than a crumpled heap, Escott concentrates on the music. He includes tales of the first acetates, of the rise from honky tonk obscurity to vindication on that stage of stages. The tone never becomes maudlin, not even when the author describes that cold and mysterious night when a hired car takes Hank's lifeless body on into West Virginia. In the end, the music helps dispel the myths. Escott aptly notes that Hank "left a life diarized in verses sung with such a conviction that we feel as though we know him well." This fine book gets us a little closer too.

Just finished this book after recently getting into Hank's music. Colin Escott nails it, a wonderful work that explores the tragedy that was Hank Williams. I remember growing up in the late 20th century northern America, whenever I heard the term "country music", I always pictured some tall, lanky "hillbilly" that spoke and sang with a twang - the stereotype, or so I thought. Hank Williams created the stereotype I had in my head, but Escott tells us so much more that he did.

From his trouble with woman, including, and especially his mother, to his dalliances with the bottle and prescription drugs - from his horrible fiscal skills, right on through to his final day, a day clouded in just as much mystery as the man himself, Escott takes us on a 29-year ride so packed with detail you could not help but feel that Hank was 70 on that fatefull 1st day of 1953. You know he felt that old.

For anyone getting into Hank's music, this is the book for you. I'd also recommend it as a very insightful look into the early days of the music business, perhaps an Intro the Music Business texbook. And for all the "what if he had lived" arguments out there, Escott does a great job showing his readers how this genius' untimely demise may have, in fact, been very timely in preserving his legacy & country music.

The book culminates with 3 wonderful appendices. One lists every Hank Williams song title, any of which could have served as one of many chapter titles in this book. Excellent work, Mr. Escott.

Giving this book 5 Stars is as big an understatement as saying Hank could sing a heartbreak song.After all these years he is still the person who had the biggest impact on Country Music.I miss greatly the great music we used to hear on our radios we got from Hank and many others for so many years.This music which was written by,loved by,lived by and told about the hopes,struggles,sorrow,happiness and every other aspect of life of the people came from the singers and songwriters themselves.It is such a shame that the Industry has hijacked this music of the people and while forcing it aside,replaced it with studio tripe.The stuff that comes out today is a pretty sad subsitute for what Country Music really is--Hank,Robbins,Haggard,Jones,Carters,Cash Sovine,Nelson,Bare,Snow, Arnold,Lewis,Wynette,Cline ,Miller,Loretta,Anderson,Campbell,Boxcar,just to name a very few.Do you get my point? These people and their music would just never be heard if starting out today.It's time to forget about the studios and go back to the people--the roots of Country Music.
"Did you ever see a robin weep,
When leaves began to die,
Like me,he's lost the will to live,
I'm so lonesome I could cry."

How about Mansion on the Hill,Cold,Cold Heart,I saw the Light;that was Country Music at it's finest.

Escott as covered Hank with all the passion few others would be able to.I remember the New Year Hank Williams specials that lasted for four hours on radio here in Toronto hosted by Escott and Bill MacEwan and miss them as well.If you like Country Music and Hank;you'll love this book,as well as "Hank Williams Snapshots from the Lost Highway" by Escott and Kira Florita ;it is a great companion to this book.

Wonderful biography of ole Hank! Not to harsh and not to patronizing. Editors notes were great. I couldn't wait to get to the next page. Even if your not a big reader, this book will hook you, and you won't put it down until its finished, then you'll read it again. Great pictures. The history of "ole Hank's" family, really explains why he was so great and had such a tragic departure from life. Great book. FIVE STARS to the author!!! Highly recommended reading.

Well-balanced and packed with good information about Hank Williams. I feel I know him now as well as anyone could. I highly recommend this book.