The next month, he called Helms into the studio for a recording session.

He drank to excess, and was fired from the Opry in August 1952. Yet it is Don Helms' signature steel guitar sound you hear on almost every one of Hank Williams' hit songs, establishing Helms as an instrumental force.īut even though he was writing and recording hit records by the dozens, Hank Williams was a very unhappy man. In less than four years, the two went on to record a string of hits, cementing Williams' status as an iconic composer and performer. In 1949, Don Helms signed on again with Hank Williams, who by then had become both a Grand Ole Opry star and a compulsive songwriter. His first stint as a 'Drifting Cowboy' was a short one, ending when Helms, not yet 18 years old, joined the U.S. At 15, Helms purchased his first steel guitar, and by 1943, he was good enough to be playing in Hank Williams' band. An amazing 37 of those were hits, however, making the choice much more difficult, especially for Don Helms, who played on most of those now-classic recordings by Hank Williams and his alter ego, 'Luke the Drifter.'ĭon Helms, who died of a heart attack on August 11, was born in 1927 in the southern state of Alabama, and grew up listening to the sound of steel guitars on the weekly radio broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry. After all, the iconic country singer only recorded 66 songs under his own name. At first, you might think picking a favorite Hank Williams song wouldn't be difficult. 'That was Hank's favorite of all the songs that he wrote, and it's also my favorite,' said Helms, the last survivor of Hank Williams' 'Drifting Cowboys,' in an interview recorded in 1999. But what does 'lonesome' sound like? For many, it's the mix of Hank Williams' voice and Don Helms' steel guitar on songs like 'Cold Cold Heart.'

While his name may not be familiar to you, VOA's Katherine Cole says if you've ever heard a sad classic country music song, you've probably heard the sound of Don Helms' steel guitar.įans and critics often use the word 'lonesome' when describing the sound of classic country music.

And for those who don’t wish to dance, Alter Ego’s show is very entertaining to watch!ĪLTER EGO tours the world performing at the most prestigious parties and events on Earth, and they can’t wait to energize your guests.ĪLTER EGO was the main entertainment at 3 award-winning events recognized at the Canadian Special Events Star Awards Gala including “MOST OUTSTANDING EVENT OVER $300,000”, “BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION BY AN IN-HOUSE TEAM” and “BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A HIGH PROFILE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION”.Don Helms, the last 'Drifting Cowboy,' has died at the age of 81. The gorgeous costumes, the high energy choreography, the flashing lights….their show is designed to interact with the audience and keep them on the dance floor. With 7 lead singer/dancers and 95 dazzling costume changes, this group puts on a show like no other.Īlter Ego’s string of hits from the 70’s to today captivates the crowd. It’s a non-stop all dance repertoire featuring the best of 70’s disco, 80’s rock, 90’s Pop, and the hit songs of the new Millennium. Alter Ego from Montreal is North America’s top party band.

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