Tag Archives: Hank Williams

Music Monday: January 23, 2023

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Music Monday.

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

One of the newest members of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame celebrated birthday #77 last week. Dolly Parton was born January 19, 1946 in Sevier County, Tennessee. She joined fellow country superstars Hank Williams and Johnny Cash who were also recognized for their contributions to music history without being defined by one genre.

The Rock Hall’s introduction of Parton-“In a career spanning six decades, she has recorded more than 50 studio albums and, by her own estimation, written nearly 3,000 songs”-limit her talents to musician, singer and songwriter. Those are certainly impressive roots but only the first part of her story. She is so much more than just three things. She is a wife (who has spent many years honoring her husband’s wish for privacy), an actress (9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias are my favorites), an author, a businesswoman, a humantitarian (her Imagination Library is such an incredible mission) plus she has her own resort & theme park, Dollywood. She seems to grow in popularity every day, hitting three billion worldwide streams in 2021, according to her website. That is a massive reach but not surprising for a woman who has written some incredible songs, including today’s.

It was released nearly 50 years ago in October 1973, yet it is still one of the defining songs of Parton’s career. And it shows us all that a throw down is not always the way to go when confronting someone trying to hurt you. Maybe, just maybe, an honest conversation reminding them that even if they can cause you pain, perhaps they will choose not to.

“I had to have this talk with you
My happiness depends on you
And whatever you decide to do
Jolene”.

Dolly Parton circa 2019. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Dolly Parton: “Jolene” (1973, written by Dolly Parton).

Stay safe & well.

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Let’s Take A Moment Day 546

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

blog Sept 2021

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

As I have shared before, my grandmother is the one who introduced me to country music, How do you thank someone for bringing Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton & others into your life? And that was only one of the many invaluable gifts my grandmother gave me. Today marks 20 years since she died. I miss her every moment of every day. And since September 17 marks the 98th birth anniversary of Hank Williams, I thought today’s song was a great way to remember them both.

“When tears come down like fallin’ rain
You’ll toss around and call my name
You’ll walk the floor the way I do
Your cheatin’ heart will tell on you“.

Idie's wedding picture

Hank

Top: My grandmother (with my grandfather) on their wedding day in April 1934 Hank Williams circa 1950. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Hank Williams: “Your Cheatin’ Heart” (1952, written by Hank Williams).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 186

Posted in Music by

Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day.  And if this helps anyone else, even better.

September 17th marked the 97th birth anniversary of country’s first and arguably greatest star, Hank Williams. Born in Alabama in 1923, Hiram “Hank” Williams began playing guitar around age 14. By 1938 he was already playing in a band, “Drifting Cowboys”. In 1946 he recorded for Sterling Records which led to a contract with MGM Records and his first hit, “Move It On Over”. When he moved to Nashville in 1949 he was on his way to achieving his legendary status with songs like “Hey Good Lookin'”, “Your Cheatin’ Heart”, “I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You”) and today’s track.

Williams, who was born with the disease spina bifida occulta, suffered intense back pain because of this condition. It led to an early reliance on alcohol to help cope with it but eventually he formed a dependency on it that began to interfere with his personal life as well as his musical career. His alcoholism became so bad he was fired from The Grand Ole Opry in August 1952. He died en route to a show on January 1, 1953 at age 29. But with the songs he wrote and recorded his legacy as a musical powerhouse was already sealed.

He was awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation Award in 2010 “for his craftsmanship as a songwriter who expressed universal feelings with poignant simplicity and played a pivotal role in transforming country music into a major musical and cultural force in American life”. Williams influenced everyone from Elvis Presley to Bob Dylan to The Rolling Stones to countless country artists. His songs have been covered by Al Green, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Norah Jones, Jeff Buckley and an array of other artists in many different genres. He remains one of the top legends in music nearly seven decades after his death. He was just that great.

“Hear that lonesome whippoorwill
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
I’m so lonesome I could cry“.

H Williams 1

Hank Williams circa 1945. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Hank Williams: “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (1949, written by Hank Williams).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

So long, February!!!

Posted in Month End Reviews by

Hello, Vixens!!!  How crazy is it that we arrived at the end of February so quickly?  What did you take away from the second month of the year?

As much as I am settling into my new life here in CT, I am itching to get to some estate sales as I am beginning to have severe & painful withdrawal symptoms.  I cannot wait to go into an old Victorian and dig, dig, DIG!!!

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Source:  Historicbuildingsct.com

While I bide my time, I am enjoying other activities like my book club meetings.  Last month’s selection was a fabulous read (“Everything I Never Told You“*** by Celeste Ng).  This month we are reading “My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante.  Have any of you read this one yet?

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I am thinking of joining a second club through the library.  They read old books by classic authors.  This month’s selection is William Faulkner’s “Light In August”.  I am really looking forward to it because I still remember how mesmerized I was the first time I read “A Rose For Emily”.   Wow.

I reluctantly started watching “Grey’s Anatomy” again, which I swore I would not do after Shonda Rhimes killed off Patrick Dempsey’s Derek McDreamy character.  But the music on that show has always been top notch & mostly from new or lesser known artists, and I love hearing new talent.  A recent song I have fallen head over heals in love with is “Touch” by Sleeping At Last.  Just gorgeous. Whatever type of music you enjoy, I dare you not to adore this song!!!  Can you believe that “Grey’s” has been on the air since 2005!!!  Where have the last 11 years gone?  But I will always love the first three seasons with the original cast the best.  And I still miss the hottest patient ever, Denny Duquette. He almost made me enroll in medical school!!!  Sa-woon!!!

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Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Original source unknown)

As much as I love TV, I have been stuck in a happy rut of old shows (“Everybody Loves Raymond***”, “The Facts of Life***”, “Reba***, “Roseanne***” and of course my “Golden Girls***”.  But another one of the few prime time shows I watch is “Modern Family” which I am happy to report is still as funny as ever in its seventh season.  It was so great to see new episodes after the holiday hiatus.

Did you hear there is a new biopic about Hank Williams coming out this month?  “I Saw The Light” opens March 25. I am so there.  I love bios on the legends of music, whether past or present.

I saw the light

Let’s review what else happened in February:  Leonardo DiCaprio finally won a Best Actor Oscar (for “The Revenant“), Ed Sheeran finally won a Grammy Award & it was a big one (Song of the Year for “Thinking Out Loud“), I turned another year older and I am still wondering if there will be a sequel to “The Blind Side” since Michel Oher’s team, the Carolina Panthers, lost this year’s big game to Peyton Manning & the Denver Broncos.  But I think it is worth a second movie given Oher has now been to the Superbowl twice, winning a ring in 2013 with his first pro team, the Baltimore Ravens.  That in and of itself makes for a great plot, right?.

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 15: Recording artist Ed Sheeran, winner of Best Pop Solo Performance for 'Thinking Out Loud', accepts award onstage during the GRAMMY Pre-Telecast at The 58th GRAMMY Awards at Microsoft Theater on February 15, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage)

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage)

A new movie could also explore the family’s rise to fame due to the success of the movie, how they felt seeing their lives played out on the big screen, meeting the actors who portrayed them and the experience of attending the Academy Awards in 2010.  Plus I would love to see Tim McGraw on the big screen again.  Swoon.  Who is with me 🙂  ???

So what made the second month of the year memorable for you?

Please note that I do not own the rights to anything, but the starred links*** are my affiliate links. I only share what I love and am grateful for the support 🙂   .

Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy digging!!!