Cricket Band Celebrates Hank Williams

Location: R.A. Fountain

From the September 12, 2007 FAD:

Shelby and Linda Stephenson, who both play guitar and sing, will be joined in their Hank Williams tribute by Shelby’s brother Paul on guitar and vocals; Manny Krevat on bass; and Mel Waters on electric guitar. Brother Marshall Stephenson, the bluegrass star and impresario, has also promised to sit in on a couple of Hank Williams songs.

Shelby and Linda Stephenson have released a Hank Williams tribute CD, and they have recorded and performed bluegrass and bluegrass gospel throughout the region with the Stephenson Brothers and Linda.

“This is an outstanding show,” said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor. “Shelby knows his Hank and he sings it with a lot of passion and respect.”

Stephenson is also one of the state’s best known poets. He has published 8 collections of poetry, including Possum, and is editor of the Pembroke Review.

“What he really loves doing now is singing classic country songs,” added Albright. “The tribute was Shelby’s idea. He made it happen last year when his Cricket Band debuted its act here for Hank’s birthday. It’s a good tradition to keep alive, not just for Hank’s music, but for his connection to Fountain, Alabama, which a lot of folks don’t know about.”

Hank Williams was born on September 17, 1923 in Mt. Olive, Alabama. He moved to Fountain, Alabama when he was 10 years old, to live with an aunt, Alice, who taught him to play guitar, and her husband. Legend also has it that their son J.C. taught Hank how to drink whiskey during that year he stayed in Fountain.

Williams died on New Year’s Day 1953. “Everybody knows that story,” said Shelby Stephenson, “but we want folks to remember him for the great songs he wrote while he was living.” The Cricket Band’s set list will include songs written by Williams and his contemporaries, as well as covers of tunes that Williams popularized but didn’t write.

 

Tags: classic, Concert, country