THE FREE LANCE-STAR
Fifty-two years ago Saturday, country music legend Hank Williams was pronounced dead at the age of 29 in Oak Hill, W.Va.
Officially, a heart problem, "acute right ventricular dilation," took Williams' life as he lay in the back of his white Cadillac en route to a performance in Ohio.
It has been suggested that a combination of alcohol and doctor-administered injections of morphine and vitamin B12 played a part, but the circumstances surrounding the demise of the "Hillbilly Shakespeare" remain a mystery.
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WHAT: Tribute to
Hank Williams WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 1, 7:30 p.m. WHERE: The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria COST: $25 in advance, $30 day of show INFO: 703/549-7500 WEB: birchmere.com TICKETS: Available by calling Ticketmaster at 800/551-7328 or online at ticketmaster.com.
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Folk musician Cathy Fink had thought for many years that someone somewhere should play a concert of Williams' music near the anniversary of his death. Eight years ago, she put her money where her mouth was.
She rounded up her musical partner Marcy Marxer and other musician buddies Bill Kirchen and Robin and Linda Williams for an evening of country music that's become an annual tradition at the Birchmere in Alexandria.
"It was so much fun and so successful, the next day there was a call from the Birchmere saying, 'Let's put next year's date on the calendar,'" Fink said in a phone interview.
This year's tribute to Williams will take place Saturday night. The concert comes perilously close to selling out each year, Fink said, so advance tickets are recommended.
The performers begin the show together and then take turns revisiting the Hank Williams catalog, which includes such favorites as "Lovesick Blues," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Long Gone Lonesome Blues."
"One of the things that I think is so potent about this repertoire is that it's not disposable," Fink said. "His songs have stood the test of time. He figured out how to squeeze the essence of loneliness into the least possible number of words with these haunting melodies."
Williams wrote about 100 songs during his tragically short lifetime. He drew a devoted following not only with aching accounts of loss, but also with honky-tonk dance numbers and even a little yodeling.
His country music is as classic as The Beatles' pop music, Fink said, and "people still identify with his pure country sound."
Fink and Marxer, Kirchen, and Robin and Linda Williams have played the tribute concert each year since it began. Fiddle player Rickie Simpkins, bassist Ralph Gordon and steel guitar player Dave Giegerich round out the band.
Multi-instrumentalists Fink and Marxer have played folk and children's music together for more than 20 years. They won a Grammy this year for Best Musical Album for Children, and they have 10 nominations in all.
Kirchen has spent his life playing honky-tonk and country music, and he's known for his skills on a Fender Telecaster, Fink said. He can be heard playing guitar on Commander Cody's 1972 hit "Hot Rod Lincoln."
With three decades of performing bluegrass, folk and country music under their belts, husband-and-wife duo Robin and Linda Williams frequently appear on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" radio show, in addition to touring constantly with Their Fine Group.
The performers all look forward to getting together every year to pay tribute to such an illustrious figure in music history and to catch up with one another.
"It's a group of friends who don't see each other that often.We connect personally and musically over the holidays through this show," Fink said.
They maintain a relaxed atmosphere that lets them enjoy themselves on stage, whether they're all playing together or chiming in on one another's songs.
"It's tight enough for us to be able to put on a good show and loose enough for everyone to improvise and have fun with it," Fink said. "The level [of musicianship] is so good you know you can do that and always end up in a good place."
To reach EMILY GILMORE: 540/374-5426 egilmore@freelancestar.com