some fine words of Hank Thompson at his final show

in between songs, thanks the crowd at the waco county fair and rodeo

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• hank
• thompson
• texas
• waco
• last
• show

[jpeanrkode]

A friend of mine who was very close to Hank told me that Hank felt horrible all day during this performance. He was ill and it was very hot that day. That's a testament to the true entertainer that he was. Fans first, always. Why aren't all entertainers like that?

[elc1960]

@papawx3 I agree, for the most part. Don't forget, Charlie Rich and Kenny Rogers didn't start out as country artists. Kenny was a member of the New Christy Minstrels, and Rich was part of the last wave of Sun Records acts ("Lonely Weekends", "Mohair Sam"). The "lounge" feel you spoke of was due to the "Nashville Sound" of the era which reduced Eddy Arnold, Ray Price and Tennessee Ernie Ford to "easy listening" artists. Chet Atkins as an RCA producer was largely responsible for that trend.

[barbiesweet45]

Hi 2bwhiteproud, I agree with you, I wish I had of seen Hank in concert, the talent out there is not worth watching of listening to but one and that is Travis Tritt, Travis sings from the heart and he reaches peoples souls, he is not a cookie cutter he is souuthern rock blues classical country, blue grass etc I met Travis and it will go down in my little history book Thanks Barbar from Canada

[2bwhiteproud]

Out of all singers ever who go on a stage there are only select true stars hank Thompson is one of them. The ones coming out in todays world are ripped up shirt little punk wanna be a stars ....Sorry Stars have class and that special something some record producers money can't BUY!, takes more to be a star than a record deal and a Silver Eagle...

[bcrosstx]

What a trooper!

[papawx3]

@elc1960 The 1960s was the last of the true spirit of country&western music. Haggard, Cash, Owens, Jones & others were in their prime back then, and the music was exceptional. Country music took on a Holiday Inn lounge feel with Ray Price, Chet Atkins, Charlie Rich, Kenny Rodgers and Jim Reeves. By the '70s, it was not even the same music anymore, it had lost it's soul.Trash like Hank Jr make me sick.

[elc1960]

For whatever reason, country music underwent a real sea change at the beginning of the '60s, and a lot of the old "honky tonk" style people like Hank kind of disappeared from country radio. They were pretty much relegated to concert and Opry appearances after that because the industry was heading to a more "pop" approach, and some of his contemporaries went along with the times to continue getting airplay. I think the business lost out on something when it happened. Great to see this clip.

[southernnutter]

The GREATEST country singer of all time and a damn good man,Hank Thompson.I got time for one more round and six pack to go.Long live Hank.

[jjjazzz1]

Bert Rivera, one of Hank's long-time steel players, has some recent (2009-2010) live video performances posted by jjjazzz1.

[rockinredneck57]

@Fretkillr Probably to show what a good man, not just a good performer he was. He was a legend, plain and simple.

[XOkie]

Helluva good man and great talent.