Obit: Last of The Drifting Cowboys

Subject: RE: Obit: Last of The Drifting Cowboys
From: topical tom
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 11:44 AM

Yet another great has passed on.Sympathies to the family and friends. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Last of The Drifting Cowboys
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 11:30 AM

As a farm kid growing up in central California in the 1940's and '50's, I would listen to an old radio in the barn while I was doing chores in the early morning. The only music I heard was country, western swing, etc. I heard a lot of Hank Williams, Bob Wills, Little Jimmy Dickens, Red Foley, Tex Williams and others of the era. Our hired man's wife was in serious lust with Hank Williams, so I certainly remember the sound of the steel guitar played by Don Helms. I know he didn't invent the instrument, but his playing style certainly influenced many people of that era and long afterward.

Oddly, I'm not a real country music fan, though I like a good bit of the music from time to time. However, I have always marveled at the level of musicianship in that genre. People like Chet Atkins, Joe Maphis, Merle Travis, Mark O'Connor, Emmylou Harris or Roy Clark, among many others, are universally respected for their abilities and could play anywhere. Don Helms was another pioneer "string wizard" who'll be greatly missed. Another good man gone.

Subject: RE: Obit: Last of The Drifting Cowboys
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 11:18 AM

End of an era, indeed. I am younger by about ten years than most of those guys but it saddens me to realize that some of them could still be walking the earth today had things turned out differently. Wouldn't it be neat to have had Hank Williams live out a long life? Elvis? Joplin? Hendrix? So many others.

I guess it's true that

"Fame doesn't take away the pain
It just pays the bills..."

Subject: RE: Obit: Last of The Drifting Cowboys
From: Big Tim
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 11:10 AM

He tried his best to save Hank but it wasn't to be.

Sad, but thanks for the news.

Subject: RE: Obit: Last of The Drifting Cowboys
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 08:50 AM

That is sad news indeed. I know that Jerry Rivers (fiddle) died a few years back. He and Helms were the core of the band. Over the years however, there were others:

http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/thedriftingcowboys/bios.html

Subject: RE: Obit: Last of The Drifting Cowboys
From: Beer
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 07:58 AM

Another branch on the tree has fallen. I didn't know about "Fool Number One". A great song and I can hear Brenda Lee in my mind singing it.
Condolences to his love ones.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: Obit: Last of The Drifting Cowboys
From: GUEST,Eddie1
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 04:22 AM

"Don Helms, Steel Guitarist for Hank Williams, Dies
August 11, 2008
Don Helms, the steel guitarist in Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys band, died Monday morning (Aug. 11) in Nashville. He was 81. Helms recorded more than 100 songs with Williams, including "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "Cold, Cold Heart." He also appears on the recordings of Lefty Frizzell's "Long Black Veil," Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" and Stonewall Jackson's "Waterloo," as well as some early Johnny Cash albums. His songwriting credits include Brenda Lee's 1961 pop hit, "Fool No. 1," and Hank Williams Jr.'s "The Ballad of Hank Williams." Helms continued to perform following Williams' death, including a stint in the '60s with the Wilburn Brothers as part of their syndicated TV series and touring band. Most recently, Helms played regular monthly gig with the band Brazilbilly at Robert's Western World, a honky-tonk in downtown Nashville. He is survived by his wife, Hazel."

http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1592517/don-helms-steel-guitarist-for-hank-williams-dies.jhtml

End of an era.

Eddie