Legendary and highly influential country and western singer and songwriter (1923–1953). Williams was scheduled to appear in Canton, Ohio, on January 1, 1953. He was scheduled to fly out of Knoxville on New Year’s Eve, but the weather was bad and he hired a chauffeur to drive him to Ohio in his new Cadillac. Before they left for Canton, Williams was injected with two shots of vitamin B-12 and morphine by a doctor. Williams got into the backseat of the Cadillac with a bottle of whiskey. When the driver was stopped for speeding, the policeman noticed that Williams appeared to be dead. Williams was taken to a West Virginia hospital and he was officially declared dead at 7:00 a.m. on January 1, 1953. He had died in the back of the Cadillac, on his way to a concert, at the age of 29. The last single released in his lifetime was “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive.” Archive features seven items from the height of the country music legend’s career. Included in this archive are: A pair of performance contracts for Williams to perform two tours for Western Swing Enterprises of Nashville. Hank was to be paid $500 per day and $750 for performing on Sunday. One contract is dated November 10, 1952, with a run date of November 16 to November 20. The other is dated November 15, 1952, with a run date of November 30 to December 4. Both contracts are signed by Williams’ manager, Clyde Perdue. These documents measure 8.5 x 11 and are in fine condition. Three are performance contracts for Williams to perform in multiple venues in the state of Texas. He was contracted at $500/day to perform in Robbstown on Sept 15, 1952, in San Antonio October 6 through 10 and Beaumont, Texas on October 24. All are signed by Perdue, and measure 8.5 x 11. Five are performance contracts for Williams to perform at high schools in Texas and Louisiana; these are signed by Perdue and are accompanied by three payment receipts issued by Perdue to musicians performing with Williams at these venues. One receipt is to country music singer/ songwriter Claude King, best remembered for his one big hit, “Wolverton Mountain,” the tale of one Clifton Clowers, who is “mighty handy with a gun and a knife” and keeps his daughter sequestered in their mountain home, safe from potential suitors. Also included is a conditional sale contract with GMAC for a 1951 Cadillac Coupe De Ville, signed in ink by Williams. In very good condition. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA included.
