The Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation will host a special "Hank Williams Christmas Party" at the organization's headquarters at 811 Race St., the downtown space that once housed the historic Herzog recording studio. Williams historian and author Brian Turpen will be on hand for the Dec. 22 shindig to discuss Herzog's significance as the last structure in which the legendary singer/songwriter recorded that is still standing and talk about his two books about Williams.
The event is also in honor of the upcoming 62nd anniversary of the Williams' sessions that included the American music classic, "Lovesick Blues," which will be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame at this year's ceremony, it was recently announced.—-
The happening will also serve as a pre-release listening party for the Dallas Moore Band (with Jody Payne) sessions recorded in front of a live audience at Herzog in August, marking the first time the space (which shares a building with CityBeat's offices) had been used as a "studio" in over half a century. The "Hank to Thank" sessions are being issued by area label SOL Records, home to Moore and a other local CEA-nominated Country acts. Those attending the party will receive a free download card for the recording in advance of its official release next year (the first 22 people through the door also get a free copy of Turpen's first book about Hank, Ramblin' Man: Short Stories From the Life of Hank Williams; his latest book, Hank Williams and Billie Jean Jones, A Country Music Wedding Extravaganza, came out a few months ago). An announcement is expected soon about a special guest artist who will perform "Lovesick Blues" at the 6:30 p.m. event.
Tickets went on sale today. Purchase them here in advance for $9 or take your chances and wait until the day of the show, when tickets will be $10. Only 100 tickets will be sold.