Hank Thompson, RIP

I am sad over the demise of the great country musician Hank Thompson. Thompson, a true Texan if there ever was one, combined his rich baritone voice with the Texas Swing of Bob Wills. He got his start in the 40s as a young man and continued recording until 2000's Seven Decades, a really great album that he wanted to get out so he could say he had recorded in seven different decades.

That album's lead track is classic Thompson. "Sting In This Ol' Bee" is about a man who can't "buzz as often or as loud as I used to do" but who still wants "a taste of that nectar from a pretty little flower like you." He also talks about how he "can still jump just as high, just can't stay up as long." The song's chorus goes "If there's honey in that hive, there's a sting in this old bee." Hilarious stuff.

He's probably most known for "God Made Honky Tonk Angels," which inspired the great response song from Kitty Wells, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels." Wells claimed it was cheating husbands who did this. On a different note, we just don't have enough response songs today. Sigh.

Sadly, Hank T is barely known today by anyone younger than 50. The country musicians officially hip enough for most young people to buy are pretty much limited to Johnny and Willie. Maybe Waylon, Hank, and Merle. But not much more. This leaves so many amazing people forgotten. And they are dying off. Porter Wagoner died last week. Now Hank Thompson.

As the also great and unknown Dale Watson sings in "Legends," "each time one slips away, we sing man they were great, wish I went to see them their last show. Radio man bury them, while they're here let's cherish them. Before all our legends are gone." Indeed.