In 1939, Rex Griffin tried a different approach with his version of “Lovesick Blues.” It was Griffin’s country yodeling style that helped the song make its final transition from a bluesy Broadway number to a country and western piece. Yet, it would be another decade before the innovativeness of this change would be fully realized. Like the earlier releases, the Griffin recording failed in every possible way but one—local bands around the South began to play it. One of these local bands had even convinced Hank Williams that the tune was an original. Hank then “purchased” all rights to “Lovesick Blues” for $100. A few weeks after releasing his own recording of it, he realized he had been conned.
When MGM released Hank’s version of “Lovesick Blues” in March 1949, it began to build a consistent momentum and by May 7th it had climbed to #1, a position it wouldn’t relinquish for sixteen weeks (making “Lovesick Blues” the eleventh biggest country hit of all time), and suddenly Williams was a national sensation. The Grand Ole Opry (which had pretty much ignored Hank up to that point, and had avoided signing him because of his well-known drinking problem) was now forced to recognize him. The Opry finally did just that and on June 11, 1949, Hank Williams appeared for the first time on the show. But even as a sober and smiling Hank walked out on stage that evening, Opry officials were nervous. His erratic behavior, his thirst for booze, his failure to show up at bookings—those were just some of the reasons they had closed the door to him in the past.
