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From: Buddy McPeters
Date: December 17, 2002
Bob Wills, Tommy Duncan and Hank Williams shared an influence in minstrel Black-face singer Emmett Miller who also influenced the likes of Jimmie Rodgers and Lefty Frizzell and later artists such as Merle Haggard and even George Strait.
In the 20's Emmett Miller recorded such songs as 'Right Or Wrong', 'I Ain't Got Nobody' , 'Love Sick Blues' , 'Big Bad Bill (From Louisville)', etc. that had a profound effect on Jimmie Rodgers, who though he never recorded any of these tunes he borrowed from the writing style and the vocal inflections and style Miller had. These records were certainly available in Texas and the South. Wills recalled listening to Miller and some of Duncan's favorites stemmed from Miller's catalog as well as Miller influenced Rodgers material. Hank Williams heard this music in Alabama and was greatly influenced by all of it. It has been noted that Hank was very taken by Miller's recordings as well as Rodgers. Likewise for Lefty Frizzell who grew up in Texas listening to Rodgers and Wills music. He also mentioned that he loved Emmett Miller's music. Even Eddy Arnold sang a song that Miller first recorded, 'Anytime'. It has become to be one of his most revered numbers as well as 'Just A Little Lovin'' which was borrowed from another tune Miller recorded first. Arnold often sang both of these songs coupled together as a medley and they were a clear tip of the hat to Miller. Of all the singers to do Miller tunes Duncan was the one who was the truest to the style vocally speaking.
Merle Haggard was so interested in Miller's music that he placed ads in newspapers and magazines looking for his original recordings and any information about the man himself and even sent out 'wanted' flyers in his fan club newsletter. He recorded a 'live' album dedicated to Miller in 1973, 'I Love Dixie Blues' where he covered several Miller tunes. In fact he has covered more of his songs than any other artist to date. A number of other artists have done his tunes including Asleep At The Wheel and Leon Redbone.
As for Hank Williams being influenced by Tommy Duncan, this much is certain they both loved Miller and Rodgers material though their respective vocal styles were quite dissimilar, Duncan being a throaty baritone and Williams the more nasal toned stylist. Williams went on record saying that he patterned his band after Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys both in their scaled down late '40's string band, their arrangements and even their stage wardrobe.
There is the story that has circulated that when the news broke in 1948 that Wills had fired Duncan, Hank contacted Johnnie Lee Wills in Tulsa in order to get an audience with Bob to audition for Duncan's vocal spot. Johnnie Lee invited young Hank to come to Tulsa to sing with him at Cain's. Hank ventured north and indeed sat in with Johnnie Lee who was so impressed that he called brother Bob in California and Bob listened to Hank sing via telephone. Johnnie informed Bob that Mr. Williams wanted a job singing in the Texas Playboys. Bob told Johnnie Lee, "You hire him if you want to. I don't want anyone on my stage who sings through his nose." Johnnie Lee offered Hank a job singing with him but Hank declined stating that he wanted to sing with Bob Wills. One can only imagine what might have been had Bob hired Hank with his great talent and his tremendous songwriting.
Buddy