Nobody sang about heartbreak quite like Hank Williams. Before Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Ray Charles, Hank Williams was the symbol for the heroic American musician. Classics such as “Lovesick Blues,” “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” and “Cold, Cold Heart” described a human suffering that was frighteningly sincere. Although a biopic starring George Hamilton was released in 1964, it does not come near the standards set by “Ray” and “Walk the Line.” Now it looks as if the Nashville-based 821 Entertainment Group and Strike Entertainment will give Williams’ story the preferential treatment. Strike’s partner, Marc Abraham, who produced “Children of Men,” will be writing the script.
I’m really looking forward to this. Williams was the first beloved American singer to succumb to drugs and alcohol. At age 29, he was found dead in his car as a result of a vitamin B12 and morphine overdose. A legend in country music, Williams laid the groundwork for guys like Gram Parsons and Bob Dylan.
