| | Hank Williams Biography Review The Artist (9) Source: http://www.hankwilliams.com/hankbio_1.html
Some mistakes for sure | Reviewer: Gary | 7/10/2008 Gary http://www.garyscountry.com Hank Didn't Write Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus | Reviewer: Gary | 7/10/2008 Several Hank Williams songs besides Tear In My Beer were released after his death . Also Hank did not write or record "The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus". Louisville recording artist Jimmie Osborne wrote and recorded that song. Gary posts from other forums | Reviewer: blair mays | 1/1/2008 To set the case right the 55th anniversary of Hank Williams death is Dec 31, 1952.....not the Jan. 1 1953 date that his 1rst driver Andy Carr has been using all the years to cover his tracks. What Carr did on the last day of 1952 borders on negligent homicide. He has been profiting shamelessly. Along with Jimmy Rodgers before him he is perhaps the most important white figure to bring the black American tradition of blues to a white audience. On the last day of 1952 the most popular tunes of the day were world war II vintage big bands--and then there was Hank whose popularity was only beginning to snowball. After his death his popularity became an seismic event. All modern American popular music forms date to this last day of 1952. His last popular band tunes are right there on the edge of rock and roll if you listen closely. In fact his guitarist was recording with Elvis less than a year later. Bob Dylan has recently bought up some of his un- finshed stuff and in the tradition of Robert Johnson he may chart a half a century after his death. Here is an eyewitness account of his death. His death was closer to that of Elvis than you might have imagined. Hank's first driver has become a principal with the Hank Williams museum when, actually he may have commited the crime of negligent homicide on that last day of 1952. I am an eyewitness and will no longer have peace until the truth about Carr is known. Here are the facts . The date of death was Dec.31, 1952 not Jan. 1, 1953 Driver Carr and Hank evidently left Khoxville on Dec 30--not Dec31 1952 as I remember them arriving in Bluefield at the King Tut Drive- In at about 10 am on Dec 31, 1952. There is an arrest record in Tennessee for which Carr was cited for speeding which should settle that. There is a story that Hank obtained morphine (or whatever) from a Dr. Horton in Bluefield-- this doctor was repeatedly busted for dispensing drugs without a prescription or perfunctorally, thru-out the 50's. I have no way of verifying that but can testify to the following. I was in and out of the Tut all day as was my usual itinerary those days, and observed Hank with one and maybe no more than 2 beers-- of which he drank little or none. I did observe Hank injecting something into his arm in while sitting in the back seat of the Cadillac less than hour before his death (about 4 pm Dec 31, 1952). In fact Driver Carr sent me inside the Tut to get Tut owner Sox White ; Sox tried to get Hank to withdraw the needle, but the damage was already done. Less than an hour later Carr sent me in to get Sox again. Sox came out and checked Hank's pulse and then went back inside and got a mirror which he placed under Hank's nose. (Sox's wife was nurse at he hospital in town). He told Carr "this man is dead and get him the hell off premises as he didn't want an trouble here". Carr left and only came back to the Tut after he reported Hank's death about 12 hours later and 50 miles up the road at Oak Hill WV. Hank's cadillac and two or three police cars were at the Tut from about 5-9 pm the next day Jan 1, 1953. Sox and waitress Hazel Schultz paid 2 visits to the car business next door that belonged to my dad and forcefully insisted that I shut up and stay out of the Tut while the cops were there. The reason why Carr and Hank spent the day at the Tut was that they were waiting for Bluefield taxi driver Danny Surface to get off taxi duty. Snow was flying and the weather was turning bad. Pre-Interstate WV roads were extremely treacherous in those days and Carr had driven over 2 mountains, each of which took about an hour at 15 mph in good weather--the second mountain immediately before Bluefield. The connection of the second driver was made at the Tut--Danny Surface was waitress Hazel Schultz's boyfriend. Hank and original driver Carr went uptown at about 12pm Dec 31 to the Dough Boy Diner where taxi drivers hung out between rides-- to arrange for Surface to take over driving duties (to Charleston WV). Carr and Hank returned to the Tut before 1 pm. As the name indicates the Doughboy was your typical WWI joint and was quite derelic by then. The Tut was your stereotypical WWII WV beer joint. It was built with a surplus quonset hut in 1945 but was paneled in real hardwood inside and was quite a place with a wrap-around bar. Sox had a stainless steel kitchen and had the best short orders in town. About 20 -30 people saw Hank there that day--but no one paid too much attention to Hank except Hazel Schultz--who swooned and acted much like and rock and roll groupie from the 60's. Hazel had left at about 3pm to work a shift at the already mentioned Doughboy. (ie she double shifted all the way through the 50's and became owner of the Tut after Sox died in the 70's). The juke box was extremely dull in 52 except for left-over WWII swing tunes and 2 or 3 of Hank's tunes. After Hank died several more of his tunes became hits. A Hank tune was playing on the art deco Juke when he first came in that morning and through-out the day. Hank was extremely sick the whole day and spent most of time leaning on the counter. He was ejected by Sox after Hazel left at about 3pm for fighting. Driver Car was outside in the Cadillac running the heater while it happened. A bar regular was dancing on the dance floor with his girl friend to a Hank tune and drunkenly started beating her up on the floor. Hank jumped up from the bar stool and got between them. The drunk who was about 280lbs hit Hank hard with an uppercut to the nuts. Sox always responded to these things with a butcher knife waving over his head and EJECTED HANK INSTEAD OF THE DRUNK-- afterall the drunk was a REGULAR. Most of those barflies who saw Hank that day didn't believe it was actually him. Some like Sox didn't care or condidered as just a "washed up radio singer" who had just been ejected from the Opry. Superstar Hank didn't emerge until agter his death. It was common knowledge around Bluefield that Hank was at the Tut and at the Doughboy the day of his death during the 50's on up into the 60's. The local newspaper was right beside the Doughboy in those days and never printed anything about his death , but merely reprinted an article from Oak Hill. Maybe the drug connection was too much, but there is no way they couldn't have known. In about 59-60 Patsy Cline and Hank's first wife paid the Tut a short visit. Hazel and Sox paid my dad a visit and told me to keep my mouth shut. Patsy Cline had gone to beautician's school in Bluefield right before her Career took off less than a mile from the Tut. By the late 60's the common knowledge based on first hand experience was waining with death of the Tut patrons of the early 50's. It is pretty certain that taxi driver Danny Surface didn't know that Hank was already dead when he took over as driver from Carr. It is unknown what they did with the dead Hank in the back seat from about 5 or 6 pm Dec 31 until the death was reported about 12 hours later. Evidently there was an arrangement with Hank's property in the trunk as Surface admitted selling 2 handguns belonging to Hank on several occasions when he stopped by my dad's carlot during the 50's and 60's. He was very slight of build and oftentimes wore one of Hank's white handmade cowboy jackets until his death. This jacket is the same one as that which appeared on a record jacket cover. If you examine the 50's version of the death you will see Danny Surface mentioned in all the accounts including that of the undertaker. He is listed as the driver at the time of the death. Later accounts by Carr delete him altogether or alternately list him as being picked up in Tennessee--where he never lived in his life--he was a life-long resident of Bluefield. Early accounts by Carr mention "a stop" at the Doughboy (which was off the main road unlike the Tut) . Later accounts after Surface died eliminate any mention of stopping in Bluefield at all. I am willing to take a lie detector test to verify these facts. I would like to see Carr do the same thing and own up to negligent homicide for not taking Hank to the hospital after Sox ejected them from the Tut. He has been living on Hank's legend since Dec 31, 1952. Blair Mays afterword; Andy Carr sold posters for Hank's Dec 31, 1952 concert at Charleston WV and Jan 1, 1953 concert at Canton Ohio (out of the trunk of Hank's Cadillac) for years afterwards. The single most celebrated person (aside from the Cadillac last ride at these anniversary bashes at the Hank Williams Museum in Alabama is none other than Andy Carr. After Hank was ejected from the Tut he got Carr to open the trunk of the Caddy.... Andrew Carr sent me inside to get owner sox White and both stopped Hank from going back inside. Bluefield driver Danny Surface made it known that he had 2 of Hank's pistols. He said he sold them to a to-remain- anonymous Nashville "personality" in the late 50's. He wore Hank's white jacket oftentimes until (Surface's) death in the 70's. Within about 15-20 minutes he self-administered the fatal dose and Carr sent me back in to get Sox. You can trace Carr's ever-changing version of the truth with a little research yourself--even on the internet. If I had gone to the police I would have been unwelcome in the Tut from then on. Even my mother warned me not to get involved. What set me off was the 50th anniversary story and Carr's profiting on what is really negligent homicide and more. Lot's of people around Bluefield knew at least one aspect of Hank's last day in Bluefield up into the late 60's-70's. I'm pretty sure Patsy Cline was among them. For me I'm perfectly willing to take a lie detector test of any kind on the issue of Hank's last day in Bluefield WV--something which I am sure Carr will never do. Better move expeditiously if interested as I have a cancerous tumor .......B Mays After owner Sox White couldn't find any pulse, he ordered first driver Carr off premises. Carr didn't take Hank to the hospital but left in the direction of downtown Bluefield..... Carr called the promoter of the Carleston WV gig (scheduled for that night 8 or 9 pm [Dec 31, 1952] and informed the promoter that Hank would not be able to make it. If Hank was dead at 4-5pm (it was still daylight) the call was made at about 6pm. Carr never mentioned that Hank was presumably dead. There is on-line proof of this call in a WV state magazine publication ie Goldenseal which can be googled. The call was made from Bluefield. Hank spent his last day (Dec 31, 1952)very sick the entire day. He had a sandwich or two before him and some open beers--of which he partook little, if any of either. I made it my business to know such things in those days as I was was running errands for change (soft drinks, hamburgers,beer etc)for the business next door(a car lot). When Hank ordered, I hit him up for a soda. He had no change at all as Carr had all his money. He gave me a guitar pick instead. Donny Surface was the name everyone knew him by around Bluefield. He was a life-long resident of Bluefield and never lived in Tennessee. He was a life-long boyfriend of Hazel Schultz and taxi driver in town. He was an extremely thin guy like Hank and in fact wore Hank's jacket around Bluefield for years until his death in the 70's. He was Hazel Schultz's boyfriend all those years even though she was married and divorced a couple of times. Donny Surface made it known that he had 2 of Hank's pistols (for sale) for years and said he did sale them to "a Nashville personality" (ie to remain anonymous) in the late 50's. He visited my father's car lot many time until his death. If memory serves me Hank and Carr left Knoxville about midnight Dec 30. Today the drive to Bluefield is about 4 1/2 hours. Route 11 even in those days was relatively straight and even had a few 4-laned stretches, but at Wytheville route 52 to Bluefield was extremely slow- especially in the winter. Two mountains, Big Walker and East River could have taken an hour each pre-interstate. It could have taken as much as 8 hours in 1952. In fact they arrived right at opening time at King Tut in Bluefield at about 10 am Dec 31. Carr may have been familiar with the Tennessee to Roanoke route (where he lived for years) but the mountains were snow covered and must have scared him to death. He asked Hazel for he could fine an experienced driver--she recommended Donny. Later at noon she left for the Dough Boy where she double-shifted. Hank and Carr spent the day at the Tut except for a trip up town to meet Surface. Surface agreed to drive but didn't get off until 5 or 6. Owner Sox ordered Carr off premises when he couldn't find a pulse between 4-5 pm. Obviously Carr didn't take Hank to the hospital. But he did manage to call the Charleston WV promoter to tell him that Hank couldn't make the 8 or 9 pm gig there. He didn't mention that Hank was dead...... After 4-5 pm Dec 31 I have no further knowledge. However Carr was back at the Tut with the Cadilac about 5pm the next night..Jan 1, 1953. Hank's truck was full of items that were later sold by Carr and Surface. When Sox put a mirror under Hank's nose and could detect no breath and checked Hank's pulse and found nothing( his wife was an RN at a Bluefield hospital).... and then ordered Carr off premises.....Carr didn't take Hank to the hospital ...but waited to pickup Surface who was coming off a taxi shift.... An Abingdon Va. man offered to give me a Hank poster for a museum which is still available... he bought this poster in the 50's from Carr. What Carr did would still be considered negligent homicide in many places. Since he is a principal at the museum where the car is-- honor him for his truthfullness if you wish. The day Carr and Hank came in Dec 31 Carr never introduced himself and told me to leave Hank alone when I was talking to him. When he wanted me to run several errands to Sox he referred to me as "kid" , never bothering to learn my name. I became aware of his name only later.... Over the years he has used "Andrew" and Charles. The old man with poster called him "Andy". His story has changed over the years drastically . On the internet you can check it if you please. Most of the time he has lived around Roanoke Va before moving back to Alabama. The fact remains he left Knoxville around midnight(ie Dec 30) and he made a call to the Charleston WV promoter cancelling that Dec 31 gig at about 6 pm Dec 31....without ever mentioning that Hank was dead; this article is on-line in the WV state magazine Goldenseal facts | Reviewer: tony Bachler | 8/31/2007 Please research: one of the last songs Hank wrote and sung was one about a girl that fell into a well; KATHY FISCUS ; I was entertaining at that time and performed it meny meny times;;On april the 8 the year 49 death claimed a child so pure and so kind, kathy they called met her death that day, I know it was god that called her away====just the facts you $# Hank died in Bluefield WV in 1952...not 1953 | Reviewer: Blair Mays | 8/17/2007 Hank died in Bluefield WV in 1952...not 1953 He died about 3-4 pm Dec 31, 1952 in the parking lot of the then King Tut Drive-In after a fight and an injection. Carr was waiting for 2nd driver Surface to get off from taxi driving at 5pm. He sent me in to get the owner to check if Hank was alive. Instead of taking Hank to the hospital he drove around Bluefield--even after picking up up Surface. I am tired of Carr living practically his whole life in Hank's shadow when he was really guilty of negligent homicide. We need to have him take a lie detector test so that the truth be known and justice served. Comments on Hank Williams' Life | Reviewer: Rick Conroy | 11/20/2005 Hank was born 19 years before me, but I listened to him on radio when I was a youngster and a teenager, and even today. There are at leasts two books written about him, one close to the facts and the other an idealistic would-be biography that glazed over certain facts. Hank died as a result of a drug and alcohol mixture overdose, not just alcohol. He was addicted to 'laudinum' as well as alchohol, partially as a result of chronic back pain and the need for relief. He was the product of a disfunctional home - his father being mentally ill and his mother an overbearing woman who was known to have run a 'cat house' before taking over Hank's career and dominating him until he at last broke away from her and went on the road with his own band. Ttragically, Hank married a woman much like his mother had been, and she controlled his life for a few years, before their divorce. Shortly before his death he married for the second time and was trying to rebuild his shattered life when he succumbed to a mixture of too much alcohol and too much laudinum, on the way to a performance. Little is said about his second wife in most stories, since they were only married for a short time. Audrey, his first wife managed to gain control of his estate, for the most part, by hook-and-crook. Hank Junior broke away from his mother when she tried to control his musical career, too, and force him to sing only his father's songs. Hank died at the age of 29. Audrey died at the age of 52. Hank Junior has outlived both of his parents in years, though he went through some rough years of drugs and booze himself, as attested in his song, 'Family Tradition'. Hank Williams III is carrying on the 'family tradition', singing his grandfather's songs. His career has yet to come close to anything his father or grandfather have done. Perhaps his talents need honing before he can cast a shadow such as his forebearers. Comments on Hank Williams' Life | Reviewer: Rick Conroy | 11/20/2005 Hank was born 19 years before me, but I listened to him on radio when I was a youngster and a teenager, and even today. There are at leasts two books written about him, one close to the facts and the other an idealistic would-be biography that glazed over certain facts. Hank died as a result of a drug and alcohol mixture overdose, not just alcohol. He was addicted to 'laudinum' as well as alchohol, partially as a result of chronic back pain and the need for relief. He was the product of a disfunctional home - his father being mentally ill and his mother an overbearing woman who was known to have run a 'cat house' before taking over Hank's career and dominating him until he at last broke away from her and went on the road with his own band. YOUR BIO IS WRONG | Reviewer: Caitlin the young Hank Fan | 9/1/2005 I would have to agree with the previous review placed on this bio. YOUR BIOGRAPHY IS SKEWED!!!! Like the fact that you say all of those songs were released after his death. Only "There's a Tear in my Beer" was released after his death!!!! And the lyrics to Move it on over are THIS: Came in last night about half past ten, That baby of mine wouldn't let me in. So move it on over. Move it on over. Move over little dog, 'cause the big dog's movin' in. She's changed the lock on our front door, 'n my door key don't fit no more. Get it on over. Scoot it on over. Move over skinny dog 'cause the fat dog's movin' in. She told me not to play around, But I done let the deal go down. Move it on over. Scoot it on over. Move over nice dog, the mean dog's movin' in. GET YOUR STINKIN FACTS STRAIGHT! YOU ARE DISHONORING THE FATHER OF MODERN COUNTRY MUSIC!!!! Wrong? | Reviewer: Barney | 1/30/2005 Your Hank Williams biography has some facts and some fiction. The songs you have published as being released after his death are wrong. With the exception of "There's a tear in my beer" every song you listed was released when he was very much alive! That simple oversight makes your entire site questionable. Get your facts straight! Review the Artist Hank Williams | | ||||||||||||
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