It was all in Hank’s heart. This was the scene in Montgomery's Municipal Auditorium Jan. 4, 1953 as thousands filed past the open casket of singer-composer Hank Williams who died Jan. 1, 1953 at the age of 29. “He was dead on arrival at an Oak Hill hospital,” the front page of The Alabama Journal read. Her brother is singer Sam Williams who opened for Cam on her UK tour last year. He was born in Georgiana, Al., in 1923 as Hiram King Williams, and he died of a heart attack in 1953. At the age of 29, he was dead. Roy Acuff leads a host of country stars singing at the funeral of Hank Williams. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. But clearly Williams' tragic death got in the way of that plan. Katherine Williams-Dunning, the 27-year-old daughter of Hank Williams Jr, has tragically died in a one-car crash in Henry County, Tennessee. She was married to Hank Williams and Erskine Guy. “Hank Williams had something that humanity universally needs -- a song with a heart-felt message.”. It was something he apparently saw coming. “Alabamians mourned the death of ‘their Hank,’ expressing themselves to newspapers, radio stations and to relatives staying at the home of the star’s mother,” that report continued. In 1953, Williams died of a heart attack at age 29 after years of alcohol and prescription drug abuse, and his influence lived on in more ways than just as an artist. Williams-Dunning died … Stopping for gas in Oak Hill, West Virginia, Carr realized Williams was dead. Charles Carr told the AJC in 2002 he was the only witness when Hank Williams died. Photo Credit The Strange Death of Country Music Star Hank Williams. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. “He was one of the finest young men that we ever knew,” Acuff said. Dom Calicchio is … As the rest of the world would soon learn, country music singer and composer Hank Williams had quietly rolled into town early that day in the backseat of his brand-new, baby-blue Cadillac convertible. The prolific musician and performer wrote songs such as "Your Cheatin' Heart," drank too much whiskey, had family problems. Lillie Stone, Audrey Williams, and Hank Williams, Jr., seated on a bed while looking through letters and cards received after the death of Hank Williams, Sr. Ernest Tubbs began the funeral with “Beyond the Sunset” and Red Foley and The Statesman Quartet sang “Peace In The Valley.”. Wynette died in the same room where Williams' widow Audrey Williams died in 1975 of alcoholism. She cried out, “He’s gone ... gone” over and over as firefighters helped her out. It was also something that was suggested by the initial police report. As people across his native Alabama picked up their morning newspapers that first morning of 1953, they were greeted with the tragic news Williams had died. “He had a message. Audrey Williams was born on February 28, 1923 in Banks, Alabama, USA as Audrey Sheppard. On January 1, 1953, Hank Williams, Country Music Star and idol of millions, was found dead in the back seat of a chauffeured car on his way to a gig in West Virginia. With the 50th anniversary of Williams' death approaching, plans call for another tribute concert and a retracing of Hank's final journey. “He was racked by physical and emotional afflictions, and these coupled with his gift of song, made him kin to millions.”. Hank Williams died on New Year’s Day 1953, Montgomery funeral drew 20,000 mourners al.com - Jeremy Gray. Around 1988 WTVK Channel 26 in Knoxville, TN had a series of videos they did on country music. Hank Williams had been on thin ice with the organisers of Nashville’s already-fabled concert and broadcast institution, The Grand Ole Opry, when he pushed his luck too far on August 9, 1952. “I think he had a profound sadness in him,” says Marc Abraham, writer and director of the new biopic. Montgomery, Alabama - Family at Hank Williams memorial unveiling. Some local citizens, however, didn't want Oak Hill to be remembered as the death site. Officials listed his cause of death as heart failure but noted that body contusions meant he had recently been in a fight. Most accounts have Williams looking and sounding groggy, and hotel porters allegedly had to carry him to the car. A single-vehicle crash in Tennessee on Saturday night resulted in the death of the 27-year-old daughter of country music singer Hank Williams Jr., according to reports. Oak Hill, West Virginia. https://allthingsoflife.com/the-strange-death-of-country-star-hank-williams Katherine Williams-Dunning, the daughter of country singer Hank Williams Jr., died in a car accident in Tennessee on Saturday, according to her sister. They are in a bedroom in the home of Lillie (Hank Williams's mother) on North McDonough Street in Montgomery, Alabama. Instead, Williams died 67 years ago, on Jan. 1, 1953. Katherine Williams-Dunning, 27, died … Hank’s first and second wives watched from the front pew. At cafes across the South, the paper added, his songs blared over radios as news of his death spread. On Saturday, it was reported that Williams-Dunning, the daughter of country singer Hank Williams Jr., died as a result of a car crash. Thousands filled two-and-a-half city blocks as the singer ’ s body was taken back to Montgomery Rules to! In Oak Hill hospital, ” Lyons said – January 1,.... Crush of people which fire chief R. L. 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