Don Helms - "The Drifting Cowboy"
He is the last surviving member of Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys and a living legend: Don Helms, the player who is associated with the typical Hank Williams sound like no other. The hard, driving and chrystal-clear sound of his Gibson Console became a trademark. Even today Steel Players all over the world try to recreate and imitate his intros and solos when it comes to recording a Hank Wiliams-Song.
After Hank Williams' death on January 1, 1953, Don Helms tried to keep the Drifting Cowboys together, renaming them as "Cherokee Cowboys" and working for the new rising star Ray Price. He also continued to record in the studio for various artists and can be heard on countless records by stars like Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, the Wilburn Brothers and Ray Price. One of the most famous records he played on is Patsy Cline's biggest hit "Walkin' After Midnight" from 1957.
Don Helms is a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.