Hank Williams

The fourth annual Tribute to Hank Williams, held Dec. 27, 2003, was yet another memorable program in which the audience, seated in the historic Liberty Theatre, could imagine themselves transported back five decades to be present for a live show featuring the greatest country musician of all time. The tribute was organized by Terry Huval and same musicians who staged the show in 2002. As the program notes promised, they performed the songs "the same way Hank and his Drifting Cowboys performed them at the Teche Club in New Iberia, the legendary Hadacol Caravan, the Louisiana Hayride and the Grand Old Opry over half a century ago."

Hugh Harris was on hand again, capturing every nuance of Hank's voice in his renditions of "Lovesick Blues," "Lost Highway," "They'll Never Take Her Love from Me," "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight," "My Heart Would Know," "Honky Tonk Blues," "Moanin' the Blues, " "Men with Broken Hearts," "Crazy Heart," and "Your Cheatin' Heart."

D.L. Menard, resplendent in a suit tailored especially for him  to match one used in a movie depicting Hank Williams, sang "Mansion on the Hill," "May You Never Be Alone," "Cold, Cold Heart," "Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine," "Why Should We Try Anymore," "My Love for You (Has Turned to Hate)," "Lonesome Whistle," and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry."

Terry Huval sang "Hey, Good Lookin'," "Wedding Bells," "House of Gold," "Settin' the Woods on Fire," "Baby, We're Really in Love," and, in a section of the program focusing on Hank's guitar playing, "Alone and Forsaken" and "Someday You'll Call My Name." Pope Huval performed "No One Will Ever Know" and "Please Don't Let Me Love You" during that same portion of the show, as well as "I Can't Get You Off of My Mind" and "Calling You" earlier in the program. Terry and Ken David performed "Sing, Sing, Sing," and everyone returned to the stage for "I Saw the Light," joined by Cajun accordionist Reggie Matte.

Barry Ancelet again served as master of ceremonies.

The song list for the fourth annual Hank Williams Tribute and the lists for previous years demonstrate the astonishing achievement of one of the most remarkable musicians and folk poets in American history who died when he was only 29 years old. Every year, Terry Huval and the other musicians manage to come up with programs that present different dimensions of Williams' legacy, showcasing his most popular songs and recovering others that may have been forgotten but that find a responsive audience at the Liberty Theater, the perfect venue to celebrate one of the greatest periods in American music and bring it back to life each holiday season.

Click here to go to the page on the first Hank Williams Tribute.

In the right column, going down from the top, are Terry Huval, Pope Huval, Hugh Harris with Gina Forsyth on fiddle, D.L. Menard, and then Hugh, D.L. and Pope together. Barry Ancelet, the master of ceremonies, is shown at the bottom of the column. In the left column are Hugh Harris (top) and D.L. Menard.

The last photo at the bottom of the page includes, from left, Terry Huval, Bobby Dumatrait, Hugh Harris, Randy Champagne,  Gina Forsyth,  Reggie Matte, Tony Huval (in back on drums),
D. L. Menard, Kyle Harris (in back, brother of Hugh Harris),  Pope Huval, and Kenneth David.

Posted 6-30-04

All photographs and text by David Simpson.

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