Don Helms

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Don Helms (born February 28, 1927) is a steel guitarist best known as a member of Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys group. He is featured on over 100 Hank Williams recordings and is the signature steel guitar sound on almost every hit Hank had. On the Williams recordings Helms plays a lap steel (also known as "Hawaiian steel") guitar, an electric (amplified) instrument. This type of steel guitar lacks 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 has 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 Columbia Records recordings of Johnny Cash's, The Fabulous Johnny Cash and Hymns By Johnny Cash. During the mid-1960s Helms played in the Wilburn Brothers backup band, The Nashville Tennesseans. Helms is currently the leader of the touring version of the Drifting Cowboys which is the backing band for Jett Williams. Don Helms 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.