Sujet: DON HELMS, DEAD AT 81 !!! Mar 12 Aoû 2008, 00:31
Don Helms, Dead at 81
The last of the original Drifting Cowboys is gone! Don Helms, a renowned steel player and member of Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys band, died August 11, 2008 at age 81 of an apparent heart attack.
Helms was the last remaining link to the Drifting Cowboys. His guitar was heard on more than 100 of Williams' recordings, including "Your Cheatin' Heart," "Cold, Cold Heart" and "I Can't Help (It If I'm Still In Love With You)." His steel playing is an indelible part of those records, and after Williams' death Mr. Helms went on to provide significant parts on recordings such as Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight," Stonewall Jackson's "Waterloo" and Lefty Frizzell's "Long, Black Veil." He played with other greats as well, including Loretta Lynn, Ernest Tubb, Ray Price, Jim Reeves and Webb Pierce.
Don was also a songwriter whose compositions were recorded by Brenda Lee, Hank Williams Jr. and others. He was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1984, and remained an active part of Nashville's music community until his death.
Sujet: Re: DON HELMS, DEAD AT 81 !!! Mar 12 Aoû 2008, 00:36
Don Helms - 1968 - Cold, Cold Heart
Don Helms at Ernest Tubbs Record Shop
Invité Invité
Sujet: Re: DON HELMS, DEAD AT 81 !!! Mar 12 Aoû 2008, 00:41
Cedric Rainwater, Hank, Don Helms Jerry Rivers & Sammy Pruitt
Jerry Rivers, Cedric Rainwater, Hank, Don Helms & Sammy Pruitt
Jerry Rivers, Sammy Pruitt, Cedric Rainwater, Don Helms Hank, Minnie Pearl & Big Bill Lister
Don Helms (February 28, 1927 - August 11, 2008) was a steel guitarist best known as a member of Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys group. He was featured on over 100 Hank Williams recordings and was the signature steel guitar sound on almost every hit Hank had.
On the Williams recordings Helms played a double neck 1948 Gibson Console Grande steel guitar which lacked the foot pedals found on the more modern pedal steel guitar, which did not come into prominence in country music until after Hank Williams' death in 1953.
Born in New Brockton, Alabama, Helms performed with many country music artists throughout the years including playing steel guitar on Lefty Frizzell's recording of "Long Black Veil". In the late 1950s Don played on two early Johnny Cash recordings on Columbia Records, "The Fabulous Johnny Cash" and "Hymns by Johnny Cash". During the mid-1960s Helms played in the Wilburn Brothers backup band, The Nashville Tennesseans.
He wrote Brenda Lee's first number one hit "Fool Number One" in exchange for getting Loretta Lynn a recording contract with Decca Records.
Don Helms has played for two of the three Hank Williams (Sr. & Jr.), and wrote "The Ballad of Hank Williams" which he performed with Hank Jr. on "The Pressure Is On" LP Released in 1981. In the tune Don jokingly refers to being fired by both Hanks.
In 2007 Don Helms played with young honky tonk stylist Joey Allcorn and recorded several tracks for an upcoming album by Mark David and the Nightly Lights.
Sujet: DON HELMS, DEAD AT 81 !!! 
