Hank at 101: Celebrate country-western icon's life and music Sept. 14 in Montgomery
What can you do to follow a once-in-a-lifetime century celebration for a country-western music icon? Get ready for Hank’s 101st birthday, of course.
That’s the one and only singer/songwriter Hank Williams — who was born Hiram King Williams... who grew up shining shoes, selling peanuts and singing on the street in Montgomery long before he became a superstar… whose grave is in Montgomery… who today has both a statue and a museum in the middle of downtown.
“It seems like just a few weeks ago it was the 100th… A lot of friends were made. A lot of fond memories,” said the Hank Williams Museum director Beth J. Petty, who is organizing 101st birthday activities on Saturday, Sept. 14.
That’s three days ahead of the Mount Olive, Alabama, native’s actual birthday of Sept. 17, 1923.
More: A guide of Montgomery attractions to visit for Hank Williams' fans
Last year's event caught the attention of Hank fans from around the world, and Petty said folks are coming from all over for this year's celebration, too. After all, people worldwide still celebrate the “Hillbilly Shakespeare” and Grand Ole Opry star’s music — songs like “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “I Saw The Light,” “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” and many, many more that Hank wrote in his surprisingly short life of only 29 years.
Start at Hank’s grave
The celebration is a day-long event on Sept. 14 that starts at the Hank Williams Memorial and Gravesite in Oakwood Cemetery from 8:45-9 a.m. for a wreath-laying ceremony that’s free to attend. There will be music from the Sheppard Family Band, who are related to Hank’s first wife Audrey Williams.
“They’ve been coming now for probably 20 years doing this graveside service,” Petty said.
Blue Cadillac concert at the museum
The celebration then moves to the museum, 118 Commerce St., with music from Larry Darnell and Dalton McSwain happening from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of Hank’s blue Cadillac inside.
“It’s just a performance to try to keep the day in the spirit,” Petty said.
Museum admission is $15. While you’re there, you can pick up one of the official 101st birthday t-shirts from the gift shop.
“It’s going to say, ‘If the good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll see you Sept. 14,’” Petty said.
She said they also have some souvenirs available to purchase from Hank’s 100th.
More: Hank Williams history: A look back on the country-western music icon's life
The big afternoon show at Davis Theatre
The celebration’s next stop is a huge concert at Troy University’s Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts, 251 Montgomery St. The show starts at 3 p.m. Doors will open at 2:15 p.m.
The Davis show starts with a steel guitar show featuring Jeremy Drawbaugh, Jake Penrod, Jesse Personeni and Wyatt Aleman, plus guest appearances by Becky and Woodie Hill (bass), Mary Battiata, Landon Smith (drums) and Lanny Nichols (guitar).
The show's headline act is The Malpass Brothers, a traditional country music duo influenced by greats like Hank, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Charlie Pride, and Lefty Frizzell.
This year’s emcee is Jay Dean of South Dakota, the creator of Country Legends Jukebox.
General admission tickets to the Davis show are $30. These can be purchased by calling 334-262-3600 or online at https://www.thehankwilliamsmuseum.net.
Petty said there are VIP tickets to the Davis Theatre concert that cost $45, which includes free admission to the Hank Williams Museum that day and reserved seating at Davis. These are only available by calling 334-262-3600.
“All the VIP holders will receive an arm band as well,” Petty said.
There’s a reason they celebrate Hank at Davis Theatre
Beyond being a great venue, Petty said there’s a Hank connection that makes having the concert at Davis Theatre appropriate. She’d even be in favor of renaming that stretch of Montgomery Street in honor of Hank.
“Hank used to shine shoes and sell peanuts on that street,” Petty said.
Just across the street from Davis Theatre, where the Rosa Parks Museum stands now, used to be the Empire Theater.
“That’s where Hank won his first talent show in 1937, when he first moved to Montgomery,” Petty said. “He won the first place prize of $15.”
On the corner of that street used to be the Jefferson Davis Hotel, where WSFA radio was located.
“That’s where Hank sang on and off on the radio for 10 years, before he went to start recording,” Petty said. “He was just known as the radio singer. The singing kid.”
It’s also the area where Hank gave his final public performance during a musicians union meeting a block away from Davis at the Elite Café on Sunday, Dec. 28, 1952.
Hank died four days later in Oak Hill, West Virginia, during a car ride to a scheduled concert in Canton, Ohio. There’s been some debate as to the actual cause of death, but it was listed as heart failure.
“The next Sunday was his funeral,” Petty said.
A dozen years later the connection continued. In 1964, the Hank Williams movie “Your Cheatin’ Heart” starring George Hamilton premiered at the Paramount, which would become Davis Theatre.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Hank at 101: Celebrate icon's life and music Sept. 14 in Montgomery
