By: Brad Barnes
Date: September 2005
From: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

 

  Hank Williams ' 82nd birthday is Saturday. And while it's perfectly feasible these days for someone to live to the age of 82, Hank barely got a third of that.

  So why does the legacy of the man live on, more than 50 years after his death?

  It wasn't for his golden voice, which cracked more than a bar bouncer's knuckles.

  He only really had four years of stardom (including a visit to Columbus during the Hadacol caravan days)

  Joey Allcorn , a sort of country punk rocker in Columbus, suggests his memory is so strong because of the earnestness with which he sang, and because the songs simply rang true.

  And on top of it all, there's a sort of recklessness and energy in his music that hinted at the staggering cultural changes of music that were coming.

  "He was rock 'n' roll before there was rock 'n' roll," Allcorn says. "Bill Haley admitted that the melody for 'Rock Around the Clock' was stolen from 'Move It on Over.' "

  Allcorn and his Hillbilly Band performs a tribute show to Hank at The Loft on Saturday. He'll play two sets, including one of nothing but Hank classics like "Honky Tonk Blues," "Hey, Good Lookin', " and "Cold, Cold Heart" (which is Allcorn's favorite). The other set will be Allcorn's own music, which is a sort of raucous country that doesn't stray too far from Williams' mold.

  He'll bring in steel guitar player Dusty Robbins , who's played with Spade Cooley and Tommy Cash , as special guest.

  Opening the show is Danielle Howle , a singer-songwriter whose acoustic songs are jazz-tinged.

  Show time is 9 p.m. and cover is $5. It's only open to ages 21 and up. Details: 596-8141, www.theloft.com.