The man in the back seat was singersongwriter hank williams sr. Hanks latest album its about time released in january, see what the digital journal had to say about the album. The prolific musician and performer wrote songs such as your cheatin heart, drank too much whiskey, had family problems. D d way up in west virginia between midnight and a7 dawn a d big, blue car was rollin its wheels they a7 hummed a d song. Hank williams stars who died young pictures cbs news.
He was driving hank williams, 29, who died that night. Hank williams cadillac 5 famous death cars where are. D d way up in west virginia between midnight and a7 dawn a d big, blue car was rollin its wheels they a7 hummed a. A monument to mark this sad occasion was erected in. Hank died in the back seat of his 1952 cadillac as he was being driven to a gig. For that reason, the new biopic i saw the light opted to avoid the subject of williams death.
The hank williams museum was founded by cecil jackson, who as a handy. This story originally appeared in the tennessean on january 1, 2003. Hank williams became one of americas first country music superstars, with hits like your cheatin heart, before his early death at 29. Mar 24, 2016 hank williams is largely considered one of the founding fathers of country music, a legacy being brought to the big screen in the new biopic i saw the light, starring tom hiddleston. The real hank williams story tyree funeral home oak hill, wv. Hank and audrey had a son in 1949, randall hank williams aka hank williams, jr.
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. I saw the light vs true story of hank williams, audrey. Carr later kept driving until he reached a gas station in oak hill, west virginia, where williams was discovered unresponsive in the back seat. Tn and picked up a relief driver named donald surface. The next morning, williams mother lillian stone and charles carrs father arrived from alabama. I saw the light vs true story of hank williams, audrey williams. Hank williams jr if you dont like hank williams by hank williams. Hank williams death monument oak hill, west virginia. Jul 03, 20 carrs son, charles lands carr, said his father didnt talk much about being williams driver on that final trip, until late in his life. Uncovering the mystery behind hank williams death by arden lambert july 30, 2017 i saw the light, hank williams latest biopic, still leaves a huge gap in the hearts and minds of the viewers after it failed to reveal the real cause of the singers mysterious passing. The truth about hank williams death may never be known.
Hank williams tragic new years day the daily beast. I actually wrote pages for that scene but took them out because they felt superfluous, says biopic writer and director marc abraham. Williams was an american singersongwriter and musician regarded as one of the most significant country music artists of all time. He died in the back seat of his cadillac while being driven to a gig on new years day 1953. Memorial bridge, and the valley general store next to it sells coffee for 35 cents. Williams was in desperate need of a driver to get him to the package shows in charleston and canton. The strange circumstances surrounding hank williams death quickly. Charles carr told the ajc in 2002 he was the only witness when hank williams died. At the wheel was charles carr, a college freshman on christmas break from auburn. I opened the door to discover a framed hank williams trail poster and another frame containing a george jones salutes hank williams lp and the lyrics sheet for hey good looking. Hanks mother, lillian skipper williams, played the. Hank williams last ride dick and danna our weblog of.
Driver recalls hank williams last ride part 2 of 2 cmt. Mar 20, 2016 hank williams in 1948 getty images within 48 hours of williams prediction, he had met his maker, but the circumstances surrounding how he died have given rise to one of music historys. Carrs son, charles lands carr, said his father didnt talk much about being williams driver on that final trip, until late in his life. Uncovering the mystery behind hank williams death country. What happened at the andrew johnson hotel that may have killed. When the driver was stopped for speeding, the policeman noticed that hank looked like a dead man. Traveling between shows, hank williams was found dead in the back seat of his baby blue cadillac when his driver pulled over for gas and food.
He was found dead in his cadillac convertible outside a west virgina gas station. Both the individual compilations and the box set were pulled from the market in the 90s, clearing the way for the complete hank williams, a tendisc box set which purported to contain all of. The car in which hank williams passed his last few hours and died on new. Dec 31, 2012 the bluestones overpass at spanishburg, w. But in the end it doesnt really matter, hank williams was dead at 29 years old. Williams died at the age of 29 just before or on jan. Country music legend hank williams left montgomery, alabama, on december 30, 1952, in. Charles carr, hank williams driver for last ride, dead at. 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. Williams finished the 200607 season with 88 tackles, 78 of them. Hank williams to wife billie jean shortly before he died but suspicions about this final journey arose immediately. Hank williams lyrics 184 song lyrics sorted by album, including i saw the light, im so lonesome i could cry, jambalaya on the bayou.
Monday, august 11, 2008 don helms, steel guitarist for hank williams drifting cowboys, died this morning at 81. He is featured on more than 100 williams recordings. Hank williams death car montgomery, alabama atlas obscura. Carr explained to kitts that he was driving hank williams to an engagement in ohio and.
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. Helms played a lap steel also known as hawaiian steel guitar. Charles carr, hank williams driver for last ride, dead at 79 cmt. 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. The death of hank williams chords misc cowboy lyrics. Driver recalls hank williams last ride houston chronicle. The songwriters 29yearold heart turned cold, cold sometime.
Charles carr, the auburn university freshman who chauffeured hank williams on his final ride, died monday july 1 in montgomery, ala. Jul 02, 20 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. At 17, charles carr was the only witness when a legend died, and myths were born. The strange circumstances surrounding hank williams death quickly became apparent in the news sentinels coverage back in 1953. Hank williams lyrics, songs and albums lyricsfreak. Ron galellawireimage hank williams sang about cheatin hearts and shedding tears. Stones first stop was the police station, where she was briefed on the situation. The pair flew into roanoke and took a taxi to oak hill because the charleston airport was still fogged in. Between 1986 and 1987, mercury launched its first effort to chronicle hank williams complete recorded works, releasing a series of eight double albumssingle cds which were later collected as a box set. Apr 22, 2017 the strange circumstances surrounding hank williams death quickly became apparent in the news sentinels coverage back in 1953. 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. Hank williams was born in september 1923 in a small alabama farming community about 70 miles south of montgomery.
Officials listed his cause of death as heart failure but noted that body. We dont apologize for america lyrics by kenzie kay. The real hank williams story tyree funeral home oak. He died during the night in the back of his 1952 blue cadillac near bluefield, w. Misc sheet music the death of hank williams recorded by jack cardwell writer. Charles carr, montgomery man who drove hank williams on last. This is hank williams, audrey sheppard williams and the drifting cowboys band in 1951.
Jul 30, 2017 uncovering the mystery behind hank williams death by arden lambert july 30, 2017 i saw the light, hank williams latest biopic, still leaves a huge gap in the hearts and minds of the viewers after it failed to reveal the real cause of the singers mysterious passing. The hank williams museum was founded by cecil jackson, who as a handy teenager had rotated the tires on the car a week before hanks last ride. Hiram hank williams september 17, 1923 january 1, 1953 was an american singersongwriter and musician. Hank jr was in corpus christi texas back in the the mid90s he was booed offstage he was drunk high and very disrespectful but charlie daniels was there for a great concert.
Its three blocks west of city hall, or seven blocks east of i65 exit 172. This type of steel guitar lacks the foot pedals found on the more modern pedal steel guitar, which did not come into prominence in country music until after. Williams was taken to a west virginia hospital and he was officially declared dead at 7. Driver recalls hank williams last ride part 2 of 2. Perhaps bluefield or princeton where he had stopped for coffee. 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. The exact cause of death, and what happened in the last 48 hours of his life will perhaps never really be known. Hank s mother, lillian skipper williams, played the. Some local citizens, however, didnt want oak hill to be remembered as the death site. The driver of the car in which hank williams died was still in his teens when he was confronted with a dead countrysinger in the backseat. Hank williams jr is by far a great singer and songwriter. Dec 31, 2002 at the wheel was charles carr, a college freshman on christmas break from auburn.
Retracing hank williams ghostly night ride the andrew johnson building at 912 gay st. Hank williams jr did fall from ajax mountain and he came back to sing some great songs. Surface drove for a while and charles carr claims he dropped him off and paid him somewhere in west virginia. Asked whether folks in spanishburg ever talk of hank williams last ride, valley patron drema hall said. Country music legend hank williams left montgomery, alabama, on december 30, 1952, in a baby blue. A page of its website is devoted to the hank williams story, and after id mentioned the singer while making my reservation, the hotel upgraded my room.
Hank williams country singer hank williams as 29 when he died of a heart attack in 1953. According to the beckley registerherald, oak hill is an area where ultraconservative values conflicted with hanks rambling lifestyle and reputation as a boozer. Charles carr, 79, driver on the night hank williams died. On january 1st 1953, hank williams was scheduled to perform a new years show in canton, oh. Hank williams in 1948 getty images within 48 hours of williams prediction, he had met his maker, but the circumstances surrounding how he died have given rise to one of music historys. Williams got into the backseat of the cadillac allegedly with a bottle of whiskey, and the teenage chauffeur headed out for canton. Hank williams death car is located in downtown montgomery on the east side of commerce st. Hank williams death car, montgomery, alabama roadside america. Charles carr, hank williams driver for last ride, dead at 79. According to the beckley registerherald, oak hill is an area where ultraconservative values conflicted with hank s rambling lifestyle and reputation as a boozer. Hank williams is largely considered one of the founding fathers of country music, a legacy being brought to the big screen in the new biopic i saw the light, starring tom hiddleston. With a record of this caliber, it is only a matter of time before he gets inducted into the prestigious country. Charles carr, montgomery man who drove hank williams on. Hank williams fans wanted to mark this spot for posterity.