Hank Williams’ Steel Guitarist, Don Helms, Passed Away Today At 81
- Steel guitarist Don Helms, who played on more than 100 Hank Williams recordings, passed away this morning at 81 from an apparent heart attack.
Mr. 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.
- Country Weekly’s Chris Neal sang the praises of Jamey Johnson’s That Lonesome Song to the tune of five stars. He says, “it’s still too early in 2008 to declare an Album of the Year, but consider That Lonesome Song a contender for the honor.”
- Hazel Smith confirms reports that Julianne Hough and Chuck Wicks are an item.
- Willie Nelson Family Band members Paul English and Mickey Raphael contributed their drum and harmonica talents to the new Bruce Robison album, The New World, due out on September 2nd.
- Country Universe’s newest writer, Blake Boldt, counts down 25 of his favorite songs from Patty Loveless.
- Darrell Scott has written songs for Travis Tritt, Dixie Chicks and Sara Evans, but he put the pen down to honor some of his songwriting heroes on his next album of acoustic covers titled Modern Hymns, due out on August 19. Even though it hasn’t been released, Scott has already begun work on his next album, which he describes as “a pretty full-tilt country record, pre-’Urban Cowboy’ country.”
- Country, California’s John Maglite pulled several quotes from stories that pertain to country performers in some fashion and provided a short commentary on each. For instance, the following quote is from Jessica Simpson in an article in the San Jose Mercury News:
Country was a huge part of what I listened to… All of my boyfriends growing up, all of our songs were from Garth Brooks, or Clint Black, or Clay Walker…
And Maglite’s response: “Wow, Jessica Simpson had a lot of boyfriends growing up.” Funny stuff.
- Galleywinter’s Brad Beheler republished an article that he wrote for the Aug/Sept issue of LoneStarMusic magazine chronicling the rise of Wade Bowen in the Texas music scene by doing things the only way he knows how–his way.
- John Brown, the man convicted of killing Hee Haw star Dave “Stringbean” Akeman and his wife 34 years ago, was denied parole for a third time. He’ll be up for consideration again in 2011.
- Eamon McLoughlin stumbled across an album titled Farewell to the Tracks from Jim Rooney while waiting for the bar at The Station Inn, and while it may sound unimportant, he says it’s a tribute to a recording studio called Jack’s Tracks (named for Jack Clement), which may have sold more records than any other studio in Nashville.
- Emily West added two more new tracks to her MySpace: “Why Do Lovers Leave” and “One Thing Right.”
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August 11, 2008 at 1:00 pm Permalink
I thought I was the only one who still appreciated Patty Loveless. “Here I Am” would be my number one Patty song.
August 11, 2008 at 1:01 pm Permalink
Wow, really sorry to hear about Don Helms. What a loss. His style of playing really defined classic country. He left quite a legacy.
I appreciate the plug, though I fear you might have just sent a bunch of rabid Jessica Simpson fans my way.
August 11, 2008 at 1:45 pm Permalink
I really enjoyed the Loveless top 25 write-up. Her back to back albums, “When Fallen Angels Fly” & “Trouble With the Truth” defined the female country vocalist for me in the nineties.
August 11, 2008 at 1:59 pm Permalink
Don Helms had been hospitalized recently, but, as of last Friday, his family believed he was recovering and would be going home this week. He was still playing gigs only a few weeks ago, and had been appearing regularly once a month at Robert’s Western World on Sunday afternoons. He’d play something like “Cold, Cold Heart,” and it would give everyone who heard it chills. I got to hear him several times in the last two or three years, still playing that red ssteel with the tall spindly legs that he played with Hank, and whenever he’d go into a Drifting Cowboys song, you’d know how important his style of playing was to Hank’s sound. He started with Hank when he was 17, in 1944, and Hank liked him to play it clean and to mimic the song’s melody, something Don mastered. He once told me that, back then, musicians played melodies, and now they all play riffs. His passing is monumental. He also was married to his wife Hazel since they were 18, and they were inseparable, so keep her in your thoughts.
That said, it’s not exactly accurate to call Don the last living Drifting Cowboy or last link to the Drifting Cowboys, as the above newspaper quote says and others are already writing. Helms was the last living member of the classic Drifting Cowboys lineup, but there were a lot of members of the band over the years, and some are still alive.
Bernice Turner was a Drifting Cowboy in the ’40s when Hank was still in Montgomery, and she always has claimed to have taught Hank the sock rhythm on acoustic guitar that became so important to his sound. She’s still alive and recently moved to Nashville from Memphis. Also, the great guitarist Pete Wade, who was with Ray Price for many years, was a Drifting Cowboy during one of the band’s last tours with Hank. Pete is still active and very well. There are a few others still kicking around in Alabama who were early members of the band.
August 11, 2008 at 8:28 pm Permalink
I have played Patty’s “Nothin’ but the Wheel” more times than I can count. Like Boldt I could never figure out why that song wasn’t a huge hit either.
August 11, 2008 at 11:20 pm Permalink
Glad to see Loveless’s version of YOU DON’T SEEM TO MISS ME made it on the list – one of my favourite Jim Lauderdale tunes.
August 11, 2008 at 11:32 pm Permalink
OMG! You mean perky little dancing queen Julianne Hough and the sensitive pretty boy Chuck Wicks are together! That is like so totally awesome and really cool ’cause they are like the cutest couple ever! (lol)
I’m sorry to hear about the passing of Don Helms as direct living links to traditional country’s greatest artists of the past are fading away fast (well the few that remain anyway).
Keep up the support for Emily West because in spite of her talent Airhead Country Radio ain’t bitin’….
August 11, 2008 at 11:57 pm Permalink
You mean perky little dancing queen Julianne Hough…
I’d hit that.
August 12, 2008 at 7:39 am Permalink
Even airhead country radio can’t keep a talent like Emily down for long.
August 12, 2008 at 11:03 am Permalink
RIP Don.
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