DRIFTING COWBOYS, THE

DRIFTING COWBOYS, THE (1948–1951, sporadically thereafter: Don Helms [steel gtr]; Bob McNett [elec gtr]; Jerry Rivers [fdl]; Hillous Butram [b]) The backup group that accompanied HANK WILLIAMS on his best-known Grand Ole Opry shows and recordings, The Drifting Cowboys became the prototype for hundreds of other HONKY-TONK bands of the 1950s and beyond. The core of the group was steel guitarist Don Helms , who had performed with Williams since 1943, when both were still living in Alabama. With…