Don Helms The Last Drifting Cowboy

By Michael Bernard Panasuk

When you dig down deep into the roots of Country Music to unearth the birth of that
signature ‘Nashville Sound’, you’ll find a good chunk of that tree belongs to legendary
steel guitarist Don Helms.

It was Helms and Country Music’s most famous band, The Drifting Cowboys, who
helped Hank Williams forge his homegrown sound. Don’s distinctive style of pick, slide
and twang can be heard on hit after #1 hit by Williams, Patsy Cline, Ernest Tubb, Ray
Price, Webb Pierce, Lorreta Lynn, Brenda Lee, Lefty Frizzel, Jim Reeves, Ferlin Husky,
Jerry Reed, Red Foley, Johnny Cash, and many others.

Today, Don Helms is not only one of Country’s most notable elder statesmen, he is for all
intense purposes, The Last Drifting Cowboy.

Don first recorded with the late, great Hank back in 1949, cutting classic tracks like
‘Long Gone Lonesome Blues’ and ‘Why Don’t You Love Me Like You Used To Do.’
Helms and the Drifting Cowboys blended perfectly with Williams’ raw natural talent.
Together they created a sound heard ‘round the world.

Donald Hugh Helms was born on a small farm in New Brockton, Alabama in 1927. As a
boy, he listened to his aunt playing Hawaiian guitar. His musical seeds were sown early,
but didn’t blossom until age 15, when he heard Bob Wills say, “Take it away, Leon!”

After that mystical musical moment, Don knew he had to have a steel guitar.

“I found an ad in a newspaper,” Don explains, “for a Silvertone electric Hawaiian guitar

and amp. I bought it but couldn’t play it because we didn’t have electricity - unless we
went visitin’. But I couldn’t wait for that, ‘cause we didn’t go visitin’ all that much. So I
took an old washtub, turned it upside down, and laid the guitar on top of that tub. I’d
play it and you could hear it comin’ out from under that tub!”

At 17, Helms found himself in Montgomery, Alabama working with a then unknown
western singer called “The Drifting Cowboy”, aka Hank Williams. Hank was a local
radio star on WSFA. He and Don performed in Honky Tonks and High School
auditoriums until Don entered the Army in 1945.
When he returned home after a 2-year hitch working for Uncle Sam, Williams was ready
to make a move to the ‘Louisiana Hayride’ in Shreveport. But Don decided not to go,
passing on the hefty salary of $75 a week. So Hank emphatically told him, “I’ll let you
off the hook this time, but if I ever play the Grand Ole Opry, I want you to go with me!”

On June 11th, 1949, Hank Williams made his Opry debut, received six encores, and Don
was right there with him. Over the next three years they toured together, performed on
hundreds of radio shows at WSM, including Health and Happiness sponsored by
Hadacol, and the fabled Mother’s Best shows with Host Louis Buck, and recorded most
of Hank’s immortal songs, including 11 number one hits.

Hank died in the backseat of a Cadillac New Years Day 1953. Don planned to meet the
hard drinking Country Crooner in Canton, Ohio for a show touted to be the final testing
ground for his highly anticipated return to the Grand Ole Opry. Don heard the
devastating news over biscuits and gravy from promoter A.V. Bamford. “Brother Hank
didn’t make this one. He died on the way up here.”

Don still finds it hard to believe his good friend, and Country Music’s first Superstar, died
in his prime at 29. At the time, he wasn’t sure he’d ever work again.

Coincidentally, it was Hank who discovered Ray Price and brought him to Nashville, and
shortly after Williams’ highly emotional funeral, Price invited Helms and two other
‘Drifting Cowboys’, fiddler Jerry Rivers and bass player Cedric Rainwater, to tour with
him. The gig lasted four years until Ray finally said, “I sound too much like Hank
Williams and not enough like Ray Price.”

Don hit the circuit with Furlin Husky and later with Teddy and Doyle Wilburn. During
his stint with the Wilburn Brothers they took Lorreta Lynn under their wing. Lynn sang
demos for their publishing company until signing with Decca. Don frequently performed
on the Wilburn Brothers popular television show. He also toured with and played on
many of Lorreta’s records, co-writing her first hit single, “Success.”

When Hank Williams Jr. was ready to go out on the road, Don was the natural choice to
nurture along the rowdy redneck singer/songwriter. But the day Beaucephous turned 18,
he called the band onto to the bus and said, “I’m old enough to go out on my own. I
don’t have to play my daddy’s shit anymore! From now on I’ll play whatever the fuck I
want!” Uncle Don and Junior remain friends to this day. Hank Jr. recorded a song Don
penned ‘The Ballad of Hank Williams’, (Neil Young wanted to record it first, but Don
had already promised the landmark song to Hank Jr.), and Don played on the session.

In 1977 Don and Jerry Rivers decided to put the Drifting Cowboys back together again
after a 25 year hiatus. In honor of their reunion, they recorded a series of Hadacol
sponsored radio shows with Grant Turner reprising his role as host extraordinaire from
the 50’s, and special guests included Mac Wiseman, Harold Morrison, and the Duke of
Paducah. They also cut a collectors edition album, The Drifting Cowboys Tribute to
Hank Williams, as well as backing up tributes by other artists.
The Drifting Cowboys Band, consisting of Don Helms on steel, fiddle player Jerry
Rivers, guitarist Bob McNet and Hillous Butrum on bass, toured the US and Europe
extensively for years; and in 1992 hooked up with Jett Williams who, fresh from her
victorious paternity suit, was determined to carry on the family tradition. Jett and the
band played shows, fairs and festivals around the country, as well as in England,
Germany, and Switzerland. They also recorded Jett’s first album together at renowned
Nashville producer Owen Bradley’s studio in 1996.

In November 1997 Don nearly lost his right index finger in a lawnmower accident.
Reaching down to check a squealing mower belt, his hand was yanked into the pulley,
and emerged nothing but blood and bone. His wife Hazel rushed him to the ER where
doctors recommended amputation. Dazed and in shock, Don nearly surrendered his
prime pickin’ finger, but Hazel reminded him and the doctors that he made his living with
those dazzling digits. After several hours of surgery and months of therapy, Helms was
back to gettin’ licks just like he used to, despite the fact his rebuilt finger was ¼” shorter.

After a decade with Jett, Don decided to go solo. Much to his delight, he found himself
in great demand playing Steel Guitar Conventions, festivals, fairs, and private parties in
the US and Canada. It’s nothing for Don and his wife of 62 years, Miss Hazel, to load up
their Lincoln Town car with Cds, books, 8 x 10’s and that pedigree 1948 Gibson Console
Grande, and drive 750 miles to play one date.

Retirement never crosses Don's mind. Despite suffering a recent stroke, he still managed
to perform at the New Orleans Jazz Festival; tour with the Jim & Jesse Bluegrass Show;
record with popular actor Billy Bob Thorton, and Texas Swing King Johnny Bush;
appear in two BBC documentaries; record the eponymous Don Helms: 50 Years of
Legendary Steel Guitar; write the definitive tells all Hank book: Settin’ the Woods on
Fire; work in concert with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra; Host the Ernest Tubb
Midnite Jamboree, and play both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame. To date, he has accepted eight Hall of Fame inductions.

Though times have changed since Hank‘s heyday, the Opry’s still going strong, despite
the lack of shows performed at the ‘Carnegie Hall of the South’ Ryman Auditorium. And
many Country Mega Stars can’t be bothered to take a cut in pay to play on that hallowed
stage. Don gets called back now and then for special events like Hank’s birthday or
because Marty Stuart is guest host.

Don Helms is a living, breathing original artifact in the creative evolution of Traditional
Country Music. His musical contributions will forever transcend the narcissistic needs of
the here and now.

Few people alive today can transport you back to those long gone, longed for days of the
‘40s and ‘50s like Don Helms. He was Hank Williams’ best friend, living a dream few
people in the 21st century can comprehend:
Hank and the boys would arrive for a Show after driving 500 miles over hot, dusty
country roads, climb out of their cramped Cadillac- big crowds huddled ‘round gawking
at the tall, lanky singer and his band. They’d jaw a bit, shake hands, sign autographs,
step inside, check out the stage, walk back to the car, unload guitars, fiddles, mics, amps,
Nudie suits and cowboy boots on a sweltering Deep South summer afternoon, and set up
right then and there- all for the fabulous sum of $15 a show!

Now 81, none of his former Drifting Cowboys band mates alive, Don Helms has never
missed a show. He’s played continuously in seven decades, two centuries and two
millennia.

Don will tell you, “I didn’t expect to live this long. But now that I have, I want to stick
around as long as possible to help keep the music of Hank Williams alive.”

As The Last Drifting Cowboy, no one else on earth is more qualified.

Michael Panasuk is a Nashville writer/songwriter/poet whose work has been published,

licensed and played worldwide. For more information on Don Helms book or CDs,
please email cprrecords@bellsouth.net

Don Helms passed away August 11, 2008.

Hank Williams and the Drifting Cowboys are back together again after
a 55 year hiatus. Hall of Fame Steel Guitarist Don Helms rejoined Hank
and the band early Monday morning, just before midnight, August 11th
2008. Uncle Don had been diligently perfecting his signature licks for
the past half century to ensure that the next time Hank said, “Alright
Shag, take it away,” he’d be ready. No one has ever been more
qualified to play a Hank Williams’ song than Donald H. Helms. For all
of us who love him, today is the end of an era. His unique talents
enriched our lives with timeless music, classic stories, and a
magnificent sense of humor.