Hank Williams, steel player?

nick allen · Post by **nick allen** » 6 Feb 2001 11:55 pm

No,the answer isn’t Don Helms - note the comma in the heading!
I’ve just been reading an old (1973) biography of Hank Williams, by Roger M. Williams (no relation) and he tells a story about Hank W getting in a fight in a dancehall, sometime in the very early 40s. “Hank had been playing steel guitar, and he still had the bar in his hand.” He used it to fight off the attacker, who nevertheless managed to bite a chunk out of Hank’s eyebrow, the scar of which remained for the rest of his life.
... maybe it’s just a myth... or a mythunderstanding... (maybe Hank just picked the bar up, or borrowed it from the steel player in anticipation). I never heard of him playing steel before, and just wondered if anyone else did?
Nick
Nick

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 7 Feb 2001 3:52 am

Yes,Rivers, Hanks fiddle player told me yrs agothat Hank knew the rudiments of steel guitar and would play alittle on occasion. He was by no means an accomplished steel player.

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Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 7 Feb 2001 5:41 am

Well, then I think he should be put in the Steel Guitar HALL OF FAME!!

Marty Pollard · Post by **Marty Pollard** » 7 Feb 2001 9:48 am

hee hee...

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 7 Feb 2001 12:28 pm

Let's just put and end to this BS and have EVERYBODY in the freakin' Hall of Fame already!!!

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Martin Abend · Post by **Martin Abend** » 7 Feb 2001 12:36 pm

Just started to listen to all of the 10 CDs of the Complete Recordings-box while reading the Escott-bio. It's just like taking a holiday.
The demos he cut alone with his guitar are the best IMHO.
But I think even Escott never mentioned that Hank played steel.

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Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 7 Feb 2001 12:43 pm

Hey, Herb! Down boy! After all, he's obviously the most famous steel guitar player in the world. Doesn't that count for something??

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nick allen · Post by **nick allen** » 8 Feb 2001 7:03 am

well, apart from all that...
thanks, cc, for the confirmation. At least he was good enough to play in public, even if it was a local bar band. Wonder if he sang at the same time?
Nick

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 8 Feb 2001 11:51 am

<SMALL>Let's just put and end to this BS and have EVERYBODY in the freakin' Hall of Fame already!!!</SMALL>

Um . . . this is so unexpected . . . I'd just like to thank my family and the academy and . . .

LTB

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 8 Feb 2001 1:27 pm

Thinking way back to the conversation with Rivers,Hank did not sing while he played. He played backup steel while another band member sang and then he only played chords, mostlt 3finger grip major chords. He did not fill in between the lines, or at least that is what my tired old brain remembers.

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