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Hank Williams 1953 Canton, OH Genuine Original Concert Poster for the Show He Di

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia Start Price:2,200.00 USD Estimated At:60,000.00 - 90,000.00 USD
Hank Williams 1953 Canton, OH Genuine Original Concert Poster for the Show He Di
Buyer's Premium Per Lot: This auction is subject to a Buyer's Premium of 25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,000 and $3,000,000, plus 12.5% of any amount over $3,000,000 per lot.
Hank Williams 1953 Canton, OH Genuine Original Concert Poster for the Show He Died En Route To.An original, authentic concert-advertising window card for the great Hank Williams, scheduled to play on New Year's Day, January 1, 1953 in Canton, Ohio. Mr. Williams died in the back of a car that was taking him to this very performance in the early morning hours of January 1, placing this poster squarely on "the day the music died" for subsequent generations of country, blues and mainstream music fans. Mr. Williams was just 29 years old.

There can be no hyperbole used in talking about this poster; all superlatives are solidly true. It is the Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan and Tom Brady of 20th century vintage concert posters. The importance of the musician and his tragedy; the design and appearance of the poster; and its scathing rarity create a perfect storm of Mount-Everest-like demand and desirability.

In fact, this poster has never been auctioned off or sold publicly in the history of the planet. That's because with only two known in elite collections, and maybe one more hidden deep in a Canton family, there's never any movement on this poster; it's like a fossil buried 100 miles below the earth. It was found by the original owners tacked up inside an old barn in Canton, decades ago.

Heritage is extremely honored and privileged to be able to offer this poster, and we're guessing there's a good chance it'll go to a museum. (It's already been displayed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1990's.) In addition, documentary filmmaker Ken Burns shot this very poster for his acclaimed Country Musiceight-part PBS-TV docuseries in 2019, and for the accompanying coffee-table book, Country Music: An Illustrated History.

The aesthetic appeal of this poster can't be overstated. If you count the white border and black print, this board could be considered a four-color poster. So many concert posters of this era were small, simple window cards with one color, no pictures and scant detail... such as Hatch Show Print posters. This masterpiece is fairly stuffed with the bells and whistles that all collectors covet. To wit:

• Big size and cardboard construction
• Attention-grabbing red and yellow colors
• A great picture of Hank in full stage attire, strumming his guitar
• A splendid array of type fonts to hold your interest
• Two classic song titles: "Jambalaya" and "Lovesick Blues"
• Record labels, movie studios, TV shows and radio networks mentioned
• Two opening acts that were legends in their own right
• Ticket prices and buying location, including a 60-cent price tier!
• The year stated (we like the subtlety; after "Jamboree")
• A holiday involved (New Year's Day)
• Extreme, extreme rarity
• And sadly, the element of tragedy

Hank Williams is now considered as much a blues artist as he was a country musician. He's a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriter's Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. You'd be hard-pressed to find a musician or band that never covered or at least performed a Hank Williams song. The Beatles/Quarry Men performed three of them in their earliest days, and you can add Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and U2 to that list and just go down from there.

It should be noted that the event this poster advertised still took place, despite the tragedy of a few hours before. Hank's backing band, The Drifting Cowboys, and everyone else on the bill dutifully performed the two shows, with obviously plenty of newly added Hank cover versions in their repertoire, sung through moist eyes.

"Jambalaya" was singled out above Hank's name because when this poster was printed in late 1952, "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" had been #1 for three monthson the country charts that fall. (It had also been a Top 20 pop hit in Billboard.) And "Lovesick Blues" was listed below his name because it was his biggest hit ever, spending fourmonths atop the country chart in 1949. All in all, Hank enjoyed 11 number one CW hits and 35 top ten singles – all while in his 20's. In addition to the above-named songs, Hank's most memorable tunes also included "Move It on Over," "Honky Tonkin'," "My Bucket's Got a Hole In It," "Why Don't You Love Me," "Cold, Cold Heart," "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love with You)," "Honky Tonk Blues," "Hey, Good Lookin'," "Kaw-Liga," "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive," "You Win Again" and "Your Cheatin' Heart."

To sports and NFL fans, Canton, Ohio is best known as the location of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But to any fan of music, pop culture and American history, Canton, Ohio will always be known as the location of "the show that Hank Williams never made it to." This poster serves as the rare historical marker for the stopping point of an American postage-stamp artist, whose career going forward might have known no limitations.

Pete Howard
Consignment Director, Entertainment Music

Measures 21 7/8" x 28 1/8" and grades to restored Very Good Plus condition. COA from Heritage Auctions and restoration done by Chameleon Restoration.