McALESTER —
Tannehill resident Bob Sullivan says the picture a lot of people have of the legendary country singer Hank Williams as a perpetually sad, haunted and lonely soul is nothing like the man he knew.
Sullivan and Williams worked together on the Louisiana Hayride and did a live morning radio show on KWKH in Shreveport, La.
Today, many people —including Sullivan — consider Hank Williams Sr. to be the greatest country music singer and songwriter who ever lived.
“Somebody tagged him America’s Shakespeare,” Sullivan said. “I’m inclined to believe them.”
That’s why Sullivan felt elated to learn that his old friend has been awarded a 2010 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for his remarkable contributions to American music. It amounts to a lifetime achievement award.
The Pulitzer citation reads:
“A posthumous special citation to Hank Williams for his craftsmanship as a songwriter who expressed universal feelings with poignant simplicity and played a pivotal role in transforming country music into a major musical and cultural force in American life.”
With the honor, Williams joins a select group of American musicians who have received the special Pulitzer Citation. Others include Bob Dylan, and the great jazz musicians Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane.
Sullivan’s work with Williams is documented in the book accompanying the 10-disc boxed set outlining Williams’ brilliant, if short-lived career.
“He was great to hang out with,” Sullivan said. “He and Lefty both, if you met them, five minutes later it was like you went to school with them,” Sullivan said, referring to Williams and another country music great, Lefty Frizzell.
“He had a great sense of humor,” Sullivan said of Williams. “He enjoyed a joke as well as anybody.”
For more on this story, see Sunday's print edition of the McAlester News-Capital. For subscription information call 423-1700.
Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.
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