This petition calls for the reinstatement of Opry legend, and country music star, Hank Williams. Fifty years have passed since the tragic and untimely death of country music's greatest performer, who made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry on June 11th, 1949. A few years later, in 1952, Hiram Hank Williams was asked to leave the Opry -- with the intention that he would sober up and make a return to the stage that he loved so much. Before he could make that return, he passed on, in the back seat of a car on the way to an Ohio show. It's now 2007, and Hank Williams has yet to be reinstated to the Opry.
Hank Williams has been one of the most influential artists to ever record; changing the face of music, and the way that we view country music. Since his passing in 1953, he has posthumously achieved numerous rewards and achievements. In 1961, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and a few years later, he was added to the Country Music Hall of Fame Walkway of Stars. In 1973, he was the recipient of the Pioneer Award by the Academy of Country Music. He received a Grammy for 'Your Cheatin' Heart' in 1983, and was then inducted into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. That same year he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Life Magazine even ranked Hank Williams #1 on the 'Most Important People in Country Music' list. Within his short years with us on earth, he had 11 #1 singles, including 'Lovesick Blues,' 'Kaw-Liga,' as well as 25 other Top 10 Singles.
We, the undersigned, feel that it is past due for Hank Williams' reinstatement to the Grand Ole Opry. Hank Williams was one of the most influential people to ever record or write music, and his untimely death made it impossible for his to 'redeem' himself in the Opry's eyes, but after 50 years we feel that his legacy has more than made up for any objections that the Opry may have had about his personal life. His lyrics and music helped create everything traditional country music became.
If you'd like to sign the petition, please visit the Reinstate Hank Williams Petition.
He's a legend. Let's make it right.
1 comment:
hey i saw your post and wanted to say thanks
if your near nashville we would like to see you at the
rally.
the new website is reinstate hank . org
and here are some of the details:
The first of many REINSTATE HANK rallies will take place Saturday, March 29th in Nashville, TN on the opening of "The Williams Family Legacy" exhibit at The Country Music Hall of Fame. The rally will take place roughly from NOON to 2P CST downtown around the HOF and up and down "Honky Tonk Row" prior to Hank Jr.'s Q&A and performance at 2P. Anyone, and everyone who wants to help out with the rally is more than welcome to come down and help out. If you are interested, please read the details below.
First, and foremost, this rally is a positive rally. Yes, we will have picket signs, and yes we will be creating awareness, but we WILL NOT be causing mischief, disrespecting anyone or anyone's property while doing so. What we do down here is a reflection on the movement as a whole, the film, the Williams family's character, and legacy. All tagging will ONLY be done with the permission of the property owner. Posters will only be put in places that permission is granted. And NOTHING will be done to cause any ill feelings toward anyone. The point of this is to draw awareness and get the petition signed to get Hank reinstated. It's not an excuse to raise hell for a weekend in Nashville. Keith's artwork and the gathering is amazing enough to draw attention without people being loud and obnoxious. Let it do the work. We will have some guidelines to go over when we meet before the rally.
With that being said, those of you who do come, there are several things to let you know:
* We will meet Saturday in the parking lot of The Hard Rock Cafe at 11A CST. At this point we will go over the guidelines and hand out different assignments to people. Assignments will include picket sign people, people who will hand out postcards, people with petition pages for signatures, and then people documenting the activities. We will do our best to make sure you get to do what you want to do. If you or anyone coming with you has a camera or camcorder, feel free to bring it.
* After we go over everything, we will make our way to the HOF, set up, hand out materials, and begin. The materials are for the rally. Use them. Sell your cause. Listen to people. Be courteous.
* After the rally, we'll all meet back together at the actual spot across from the HOF and care packages will be give to you for helping out.
If you have any questions feel free to ask anyone on the team. Be safe traveling and we look forward to seeing you all there to help spread the word.
Chris, Tierney, Keith, and Blake
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