Article: A brief life's lasting light; Revue brings songs of Hank Williams and other country-music 'Heroes' to Mt. Gretna

HANK WILLIAMS BURNED hot and bright and ended up dead of a heart attack in the back of his Cadillac. He was 29.

It was 1953 and he'd only been recording for about six years.

But in those short years, Williams shook up country music and left behind a huge catalog of classic songs.

"He could get to the point faster than any writer I've ever known," says Jason Petty, who's brought his tribute to Hank Williams to the Gretna Theatre. "He was one of the first singer/songwriters and he had an incredible stage presence. He was the whole package. He had that high, lonesome kind of sound. He was fresh and authentic."

"Hank and My Honky Tonk Heroes," which opened Tuesday and is running through Aug. 3, ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!