Paul Hemphill Dies

It was said of country music legend Hank Williams that he wove his magic using “three chords and the truth.”

Atlanta writer Paul Hemphill, whose critically well-received biography of Williams was one of his last books, worked that same magic.

As a columnist and author, Hemphill entranced readers chronicling the blue-collar South. He wrote about stock cars and country music, church burnings and church evangelists. His 15 books, including nonfiction work and novels, reverberated with all the twang and tears of a Hank Williams tune.

Hemphill died early Saturday. He was 73. He had spent some time in hospice care, after cancer moved from his mouth to his lungs.

Rest In Peace, Paul.