The life, times, and after-times of Alabama-born and raised singer Hank Williams are well documented in Mark Ribowsky's new biography, "Hank: The Short Life and Long Country Road of Hank Williams". Williams led a life that perhaps could have made several songs legend, suffered from ill health, poverty, drug and alcohol addictions, and most of all, venal and incompetent family members and associates who surrounded and influenced him in life, and after death.
Born of a grasping mother and an impaired father, Hiram Williams was born and raised in southern Alabama. He was born with a form of spina bifida which was not treated and Williams suffered the physical effects for his short life. But he could sing and he could play the guitar and his mother knew she had a talent on her hands. She managed his early career but many of her ministrations were counter balanced by Hank's drunken behavior, both in his professional and private lives. He married Audrey Shepperd at a young age in a marriage that may have been legal...and yet again may not have been. This marriage which was made in hell lasted a few years, along with one son, but Audrey's influence lasted well after his death.
Mark Ribowsky does an excellent job in recounting Hank Williams's sometimes insane life - do these things happen to real people? - and in untangling the various relationships he had with others. Ribowsky's writing is always even and the book includes photographs of the Williams cast of characters.
The only point I'd disagree with Mark Ribowsky on his assessment of the movie bio of Hank Williams that came out this year. I thought it was very good.
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