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Topic: Hank Williams Story and no Don Helms.??? |
David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 30 Oct 2003 3:47 pm |
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I saw that old mvie of Hanks life in TCM this evening.
And the most bizzare thing. noty a lick of Console Grande and Don Helms or some one pretending to be him in the whole film.
Were the producers on glue here or what?
Don was so integral to the sound Hank got on so many cuts,
and the idiots just wrote him out of the story AND from the sound tracks.
I am sure this has been many of your pet gripe for decades. But I hadn't seen it for years and had forgotten ; Hank and no Steel!!
Unsupportable. |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2003 4:09 pm
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David,
This is not new. Scenarios like this have been around since I first had a desire to play the steel guitar.
What happens is this. In the minds of John Q. Public, the singer IS everything. Totally encompasing. NO one else means a tee tinkers when doing documentaries. We, on the other hand, accredit Don Helms with MAKING Hank williams. Sadly, NO one outside our close knit cacoon, shares this view.
So, to producers, and those providing such things, the back up musicians simply are totally unimportant; be they there, or not there. Sadly, 99% of the public has the same feelings.
carl |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 30 Oct 2003 4:44 pm
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It's the same old story David......no one cares but "us"!
To paraphrase a line from one of Waylon's songs: "I've spent my life behind a steel guitar.....while looking at the butt of a "star"
www.genejones.com |
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Winnie Winston
From:
Tawa, Wellington, NZ * R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Oct 2003 8:41 pm
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If you want to see a GOOD hank Williams movie, try to find: "Hank Williams: The show he never gave." It was done by the Canadian Broadcasing folks. It was derived from an "in the round" stage show, starring a guy named "Sneezy" Waters.
He was magnificent. Minnie Pearl saw a pic of Sneezy in role and said, "Where'd you get that? I've never seen that pic of Hank."
He sings all the classics, does a few "Luke the drifter" monologues, and generally shows a guy who is going down the gurgler.
Folks I know who saw the live show in Toronto said that at the end they had a feeling that whoever that was wasn't going to be alive much longer.
The CBC production was really amazing-- and the players are REAL... including the stand up steel.
JW |
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Bob Blair
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 30 Oct 2003 9:27 pm
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| Winnie, I never saw the CBC version, but saw an early live version in Kingston in the late 70's. At that time, George Essery, who I think you know (didn't you do a workshop with him at Mariposa years ago?), was playing steel on an old Fender. Sneezy was magnificent. Then in the late 80's or 1990 or like that I saw a version in Toronto - still Sneezy, but with a different band - Chris Whitely was playing steel. In the late 70's, in addition to the Hank thing, Sneezy used to come through Kingston fronting the "Excellent Band" as it was called, and it was always terrific - George E on steel, Corky Keely on drums, Ted Gerow on piano....and some others. Really good stuff. |
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Jussi Huhtakangas
From:
Helsinki, Finland
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Posted 30 Oct 2003 10:47 pm
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| I have that CBC show on video, it aired here in Finland twice some 15-20 years ago. It's nothing short of amazing, one of my favorite shows ever. Sneezy and the band do a terrific job and the whole show is just very enjoyable. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 31 Oct 2003 3:56 am
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This was the hollywood B&W version with Red Buttons, who was great, and I can't remember who played Hank, but he is a good actor.
There are a few band members shown, but not a steel in sight.
You would think these guys might have at least listened to a few good Hank cuts and WONDERED what made THAT sound.
Sheesssh.
Hank and no steel, these guys must a been brain dead dancers.
Jussi, is it possible an nice PAL version could head to France??
I can paypal you for your tape time and effort. |
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Charles French
From:
Ms.
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Posted 31 Oct 2003 5:56 am
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One of my writer friends in Oxford,Ms told me Billy Bob had approached him about doin, to quote "The real Hank Williams story"
hmmm, we'll see.
cf |
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Janice Brooks
From:
Pleasant Gap Pa
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Posted 31 Oct 2003 7:12 am
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That was probibly Your Cheatin Heart. They even had the title track in a show scene and those who know their history would know he
never got to perform it.
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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047
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Tony Harris
From:
England
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Posted 31 Oct 2003 9:16 am
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| Are you talking about the film starring George Hamilton? I seem to remember it being inaccurate about a lot of things (wives?). I have the soundtrack album, sung by Hank Jnr. There's no steel, no fiddle, and lots of SAX! |
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Dr. Hugh Jeffreys
From:
Southaven, MS, USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2003 3:48 pm
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| A few years ago, Bernice Turner, Robby's mother, gave me a large glossy photo of the Hank Wm. Sr. band when they were at Shrevport, La. Her (late) husband, Doyle, was in the photo playing steel, and Bernice, rhy. guitar + 4 others. Bernice always atends the annual H W celebration near Montgomery, Ala. It is unfortunate that Doyle and Bernice are seldom mentioned en re their notable stint with Hank Sr. When I met Doyle, about 15 years ago, he was ill and carrying an 02 tank. He did, however, fly to Las Vegas to see his son Robby with Willie Nelson. HJ |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 31 Oct 2003 8:56 pm
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Any number of country artist shows have appeared on TV-movies and what REALLY BUGS ME is that you'll see some cowboy suited guy fronting the band, maybe four pieces, or whatever. The guitar players and drummer are never playing in-time with the song that is being played for the benefit of the audience.
I recall seeing Marilyn Monroe strumming a round hole, flat top guitar (Bend of the River?) minus any strings and holding the same chord position for several lines of the song. Gadd! |
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Tim Rowley
From:
Pinconning, MI, USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2003 9:35 pm
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I've seen the movie "Hank Williams-The Show he Never Gave" that Winnie and Bob mentioned, and yes, it's a great one and there is a stand-up steel in it.
I just want to say that I feel so fortunate to be acquainted with Don Helms. He's still out there pounding the pavement and he's just a real good man as well as a living legend of country music history and I don't just mean his years with Hank Williams, I mean 7 decades of good pickin". God bless him.
Tim Rowley |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 1 Nov 2003 6:26 am
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Mr. Don is indeed a treasure, but I think we might have to recognize the fact that he's OUR treasure (as he was Hank's -- and Bocephus AND Tri-cephus). Neither the media execs nor the general public have a clue who Don is and they really don't care.
Take every opportunity you get to share a few moments with Mr. Don. It's a real treat.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Graham Bland
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 1 Nov 2003 2:25 pm
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Larry,
Alan Jackson knows who he is and so does
Lloyd Green believe me. |
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Posted 1 Nov 2003 8:17 pm
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| I got to sub for Don today with Jett Williams in Lafayette TN...one of the best things about the gig was getting a live CD of the show with Don playing ALL the intros(!)to learn the tunes...it was great fun for me but I know they missed Don...he is a TRUE national treasure... |
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Winnie Winston
From:
Tawa, Wellington, NZ * R.I.P.
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Posted 1 Nov 2003 10:24 pm
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Yes indeed! I met Sneezy and George when they did the Mariposa Festival. Was lots of fun jamming with George!
Apropos Don Helms... here is a great Don Helms story told to me by Sonny Osborne.
The "Drifting Cowboys" with Don were doing a series of shows with the Osborne Bros on the same bill.
During one break, they were all sitting on the bus. Don was sitting in the driver's seat, looking out the window at the crowd at the country music park. The rest of the guys were lazing back in the bus. The TV was on and it was playing an old Tarzan movie with Johnny Weismuller. At one point, Tarzan swings across a space by a vine, and gives his cry: "ow-oooh, ow-oooh, ow-ooh" and, says Sonny, Don, without blinking sang out: "Since my baby said goodbye."
JW |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 2 Nov 2003 5:05 am
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| Quote: |
| I recall seeing Marilyn Monroe strumming a round hole, flat top guitar (Bend of the River?) minus any strings and holding the same chord position for several lines of the song. |
Well, in that case, I'm sure they knew that no one would be looking at her fingers... Come to think of it, who told you about this, Ray...?  |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 2 Nov 2003 6:23 am
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| Quote: |
| At one point, Tarzan swings across a space by a vine, and gives his cry: "ow-oooh, ow-oooh, ow-ooh" and, says Sonny, Don, without blinking sang out: "Since my baby said goodbye." |
It took me a minute to get it, but then... 
Thanks for sharing that, Winnie. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 2 Nov 2003 12:46 pm
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I DID have the great pleasure of meeting and talking to, and hearing Don at Scotty's show.
A very nice gentleman. I now have a DH autographed pic of the Drifting Cowboys on the studio wall and Don's tab and cass. in the archives too.
The one scene with George Hamilton and the sax, seems plausible, but not too historically accurate one way or another.
The film had one wife, and a hodge podge of assorted anecdotes strung together.
And now most people think this was Hank's life. DUH!!! |
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Joerg Hennig
From:
Bavaria, Germany
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Posted 2 Nov 2003 12:51 pm
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| Quote: |
| To paraphrase a line from one of Waylon's songs: "I've spent my life behind a steel guitar.....while looking at the butt of a "star" |
Gene,
Which song of Waylon´s was that?
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Geoff Cole
From:
Marrara N.T. Australia
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Posted 9 Nov 2003 10:36 pm
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| I sincerly hope everyone of you never miss the opportunity to tell Don how important he is , not only to the steel playing fraternity but to the whole music scene and to humanity as a whole. Thanks. |
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Craig A Davidson
From:
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2003 2:59 am
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I think Audrey Williams had something to do with making and financing the movie. She had approval rights which would explain only one wife. The singing in it is done by a very young Hank Jr. The actor playing Hank is George Hamilton.
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1985 Emmons push-pull,Evans SE200
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John Floyd
From:
R.I.P.
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 10 Nov 2003 9:09 am
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Joe, I can't remember the name of the song but the line is: "I've spent my life with a five-piece band looking at the back side of me".
Anyone know the name of the song? |
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