TOM HIDDLESTON | I SAW THE LIGHT | INTERVIEW | MARC ABRAHAM | TAYLOR SWIFT

www.bayareahq.com - Bay Area HQ's Bobby B catches up with Actor Tom Hiddleston & Director Marc Abraham in San Francisco to talk about the Hank Williams biopic "I Saw The Light," now playing in theatres in the San Francisco Bay Area. Don't miss our interview, where Tom channels Luke the Drifter (Hank Williams' alter ego)! We had a chance to see the film and were fascinated by Hiddleston's portrayal of the legendary American singer. Bruce Springstein, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, and many more well-known musicians admired the catchy, yet deeply personal music of Hank Williams, and this movie will go a long way toward introducing this country/blues icon to new generations. The movie gives us an authentic glimpse into the Williams' lightning-fast rise to fame, and how it affected his health and relationships. Watch the interview to hear firsthand about how both Tom and Marc were intent on making this film as accurate as possible. I SAW THE LIGHT, now playing in the San Francisco Bay Area, tells the story of the iconic, tormented singer-songwriter Hank Williams who revolutionized country music with his raw charisma, haunting voice and original songs, most of which are considered American standards today and have been recorded many times over by pop, rock and country artists alike. Hank Williams (Tom Hiddleston) emerged from the local Alabama music scene after World War II. Wife Audrey (Elizabeth Olsen) was desperate to sing by his side despite being of lesser talent, which fueled an extremely turbulent home life. But Williams’ ability to write songs covering a wide range of emotions, using his own personal troubles as inspiration, became the essence of country music. In the end, he realized his dreams: hit records, a place on Nashville's prestigious stage and radio show the Grand Ole Opry and even guest spots on the then-new medium of TV. Refusing to hide his longtime alcoholism and dependency on painkillers behind the wholesome facade Nashville and the Opry expect of its stars, Hank remained prolific and immensely popular until the very end of his life. Like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain, Hank's star burned brightly, but briefly over the six years before he died on New Year's Day of 1953. HE WAS 29. Today, country is the most popular music in America, and Hank Williams had much to do with that. His enduring qualities explain his inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1961), the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1970) and the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame (1987). Williams had 33 hit country singles during his life. 30 reached the Top Ten; eight hit Number One. Seven more Top Tens came after his death with three going to Number One.