Believe it or not, back in the 1940s and ’50s, before recording artists flocked to Nashville, Tenn., some of Country music’s most legendary artists came to Cincinnati to record hits that would one day make them famous. Musicians like Hank Williams, Patti Page and Flatt and Scruggs all played sessions at Cincinnati’s historic Herzog Studios, formerly located at 811 Race St.
Now the Cincinnati Music Heritage Foundation — the same people that helped bring a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame historical marker to King Recording Studios’ old grounds at 1540 Brewster Ave. last November — is back this summer in an effort to raise money for a similar marker.
This Saturday marks the 60th anniversary of Hank Williams’ “Lovesick Blues” session at Cincinnati’s old Herzog Studios, where he cut one of his most successful songs, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”
To honor the date/boost financial support for the future Herzog Studios marker, a group of local musicians will be playing at the Southgate House that night as part of the “Hank Williams and Herzog Studios Marker Benefit."
The event will feature the following acts: The Hiders, Straw Boss, Magnolia Mountain, Elliott Ruther & Marvin Hawkins, The Crick Gypsies, Billy Catfish Orchestra, The Comet Bluegrass All Stars, The Kentucky Struts, Mack West, Katie Laur and Joey Allcorn (from Nashville).
Besides originals, many bands will be paying tribute to Williams by covering some of his best-known tunes.
Doors open at 8 p.m.; show starts at 9 p.m. It’s only $8 to get in if you’re 21 or older.
Read Shawn Abnoxious' interview with Bill Catfish here, and get more background on the efforts to memorialize Herzog Studios here.
