Don Helms: A True Legend

Butch Foster · From: Pisgah, Alabama, USA

You are riding late at night, most of the others are asleep then you hear those chilling sounds of Don's steel adding to the lonely poetry of Hank's song! It has happened to many of us-that time we were overwhelmed by the nothing like it on Earth beauty of the steel in the hands of one of the masters of the instrument( Don, Lloyd, Buddy,Jerry, all you pros on the forum). It just makes your hair stand on edge and sends shivers down your spine! Don caused so many like myself to buy Hank's recordings.
Where did he get his start, before joining the ' Cowboys'? Did he ever work with Braxton Shuffert? All of you who have worked with and know Mr. Helms, pl;ease add to our thread and let's shine the spotlight one more time on this great artist!

Lem Smith · From: Long Beach, MS

There's a good bio on Don on the Jett Williams website. Here's the link...
http://www.jettwilliams.com/helms/default.htm

Lem

Bobbe Seymour · From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.

Don came in "Steel Guitar Nashville" today and sat down in my office. I said, "Don,I have a movie in the VCR that I want you to see". I proceded to play "That's Country Music". A movie that Loren Green (not to be confused with the steel player of similar nomanclature) stared in with about all the great country music singers that ever were. Don sat there and told me every persons name, onstage, off stage, what was being said between takes, and ended up with tears in his eyes and a shakey voice remembering all the friends he has lost over the years in country music. Yes, Don is one of the great country music legends, he also played a instrumental "on camera" in this great movie. Filmed at "Audio Media Recorders" (the same studio I did the "Happy Steel Guitar" album), it features Don, with Tommy Jackson, Lightnin' Chance, Buddy Harmon, Hillis Buttrum, Pig Robbins and Billy Byrd on guitar. It sure was nice to watch this movie with Don, It really let me know that YES, this guy is the incredible legend that he is credited as being. A true Steel Guitar Star!!!!! I am very lucky to have had him as a great friend and neighbor for many years. A better guy? Not many!

Bobbe Seymour,

[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 23 August 2002 at 06:17 PM.]

Steve Allison · From: Eatonton,Ga. U.S.A.

Bobbe,

This is very true!

Uncle Don is a dear and gentle man that shines on and off the stage.
He is an inspiration to me and I am proud to call him my friend.

I don't get to see him as much as I would like to anymore, so Bobbe, please tell him hello or better yet give him a printed page of this post and let him see and read from all that love him
Thanx,
Steve Allison

Bobbe Seymour · From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.

Steve, I will give him a printed copy of this post so if anyone cares to express how they feel about Don and how he may have affected their career, post it here and now , or just say "HI" to him, These chances don't come by to often. Let Don Helms know how you feel about him and his great career.

Bobbe Seymour

Bob Hayes · From: Church Hill,Tenn,USA

I went to the "Bell Cove" Super Jam in Hendersonville, Tn tthree times last year. Whenever I made the 5 hour drive, I would arive early (5:30 -6pm) in order to get my seat at the table right in front of the small bandstand..next to the post. I think that it was my second trip..that I arrived about the same time..there were a few people there ,and a couple of steel players were already set up. One person that I didn't readely recognise was sitting at a stange ,older looking steel..as I aproached him ,I recognized hime from some old TV shows and pictures..My God..the legendary Don Helmes!!! as in Hank Williams and Hank Jr.(for a while). He was one of the "Pioneers" of the steel guitar..and there he was!! I started talking to him..and he started demonstrating his playing abilities on that old steel.. What a treat. That evening, he demonstrated why he is STILL one of the giants of the steel guitar. That night I was also honored to assist with bringing equipment in and out and was entertained by some of my other hero's and also legens of the steel guitar..Weldon,John, and Hal.
How could I be so lucky!!!
Grouchyvet

Bob Mainwaring · From: Qualicum Beach Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

I guess like a lot of the guys here, Don Helms was their inspiration along with myself growing up in Northern England and listening to the "Wireless" as we called it and listening out for ol' Hanks songs.
You was considered somebody even if you could whistle just the steel breaks, in fact a lot, or most of them run around in my brain most every day.
My hat goes off to you Don for introducing me to all those great sounds that will live on forever!!

I'm glad that I was one that lived around the times when most of all this good stuff was being played on a regular basis.

Bob Mainwaring. Z.Bs. and other weird things.

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Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

There are those of us who PLAY steel guitar, and then there are those who ARE steel guitar. Don Helms IS steel guitar. A real piece of American country music history.

Terry Huval · From: Lafayette, Louisiana

Check out this little history Mr. Helms allowed to me to write on him.
http://www.well.com/user/wellvis/donhelms.html

Terry Huval · From: Lafayette, Louisiana

I submitted my last post a little too quickly...

My band and I have had the great fortune to not only get to know Don Helms, but also to have him join us on a recording session and on stage. Starting with my first introduction to him, he has been nothing other than pleasant, professional, helpful and, most of all, a very sincere gentleman.

Although steel guitar is not my primary instrument, Don has done his best to answer all my questions concerning his instrument, equipment, settings, history, etc. I imagine he has had to answer so many of the same questions thousands of times about his years of playing with Hank Williams and yet, every time he answers he does so with respect to the person asking the question.

He is a walking history book of country music in its most formidable period. His memory of the people and the music are full of such interesting stories. Don's style of simple, yet soulful and bluesy, steel guitar licks is so unique and so recognizable. The combination of his firm steel notes through the recording techniques of the early years let you know right away who was playing - Don Helms and Hank Williams. His impact on the music of the 1950's was very significant. Based on my observations, it appears he was the "Paul Franklin, Jr." of that era as he was on so many recording sessions with so many of the top artists of that time.

Don Helms has been a hero to so many of us. Don, thanks for making a difference in the lives of so many people. We are looking forward to you again joining us in Louisiana this holiday season.

Take care, my good friend. We love you!

Terry

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

Don Helms was the first steel guitar player I ever met...and his was the first steel guitar I ever saw.
In the late '40's there was a travelling show called "The Hadacol Caravan."
On a Saturday night it performed in a ball park in Augusta, Georgia.
Hank Williams and his band were among the featured performers.
I was 11 years old at the time and went up on the stage where the band was setting up.
I met Don and Sammy Pruitt. They were both very nice to me, answering my questions and showing me their instruments.
Most musicians would just chase an inqusitive kid away.
Everytime I play a Hank Williams song, I think of Don and his thoughtfulness.
He made a positive, lasting impression.
Certainly an outstanding person as well as one of the greatest steel guitar players of all time.
Thanks so much, Don.

Craig A Davidson · From: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA

I was lucky enough to just sit and talk to Don for a couple hours a few years back. It was just Don and me in this empty ballroom. What a thrill to talk to one of my heroes.

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1985 Emmons push-pull, Session 500, Nashville400, 65 re-issue Fender Twin, Fender Tele

Roy Thomson · From: Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada

I never met Don but I was certainly aware
of his uncanny talent way up here on the east
coast of Canada in 1953' '54 when I started
out with my Sears lap steel.
I tuned C6 and had a heck of a time trying to get his high register sounds. If only I had known to tune E6th. There were no Steel Forums back in those days so it was pretty
well every man for himself.
Thank you Don for your inspiration and many
years of enjoyable listening.

Roy Thomson

[This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 24 August 2002 at 05:38 PM.]

Vance Monday · From: Missouri, USA

Just wanted to say Hi Don..I agree with all the coments from all the guys and just wanted you to know how much I admire you as a person and how much your steel playing has meant to me. My biggest thrill in all the years of playing was to get to jam with you on the front porch at Bill Stokleys house last year. Thanks for sharing the stories and for being a friend..Vance Monday

Andy Alford · Posted 24 Aug 2002 7:39 pm

When I was 11 yrs.old I had to stay at home for a along time due to back surgery.The high light of my life was on Saturdays when the Wilburn Brothers with Don Helms would come on the tv.I was in a full back brace with problems with my right leg and wondered if I would ever walk again my parents promised that they would take me to the Grand Ole Opry to see Don Helms if I would try to walk.Well I walked again got to the Opry and bought the Wilburns Greatest hits at E.T.s.On the ride back to Birmingham I could not wait to hear Don Helms on that record.Don Helms has blessed so many people through the years but I will always remember that little kid who walked again that loved and loves Don Helms.Thanks Don

Andy

[This message was edited by Andy Alford on 24 August 2002 at 08:41 PM.]

[This message was edited by Andy Alford on 25 August 2002 at 03:41 AM.]

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

What can I say,that hasn't.already,been said?
Don is a mentor,my neighbor,& one of my heroes.
I'm proud to call Mr. Don Helms my FRIEND!

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©          ars longa,


  mm         vita brevis 


 www.ntsga.com

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Let me join in the praises!

Don has always been nice to me. I last saw him in April at breakfast in Grand Rapids.

He's a down-to-earth true gentleman.

Don's also an example of how you can stay true too your sound, and instrument, over the years. No chasing fads here.

I have the picture he gave me of him with HW hanging in my music room. Thanks again, Don!

Larry Miller · From: Dothan AL,USA

I met Don at a jam session at M. Sloans house and asked him all the questions I'm sure he had been asked over and over again, yet he answered all of them like it was the first time. How fortunate we all are to still have some of the pioneers of steel guitar around today.

John P. Phillips · From: Folkston, Ga. U.S.A., R.I.P.

Well, If you don't hear Don when you hear Hank, You ain't really heard Hank at all !! I first became aware of Don Helms on the old Wilburn Bros. show in the early years.
It was then I discovered the Sound that locked me in to COUNTRY.STEEL, STEEL. STEEL, AND DON, DON, DON !! Need I say more ??????????????

THANKS "BUBBA"

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"Let's go STEEL something"
If it feels good, do it. If it feels COUNTRY, do it twice
jpp

Damir Besic · From: Nashville,TN.

Interesting to me was that Mr.Don Helms was a fevorite player of my wife at the NTSGA Super Jam few months back.She is not country music fan and she didn`t have no idea who he was, but she loved his playing and she told me that he was her favorite steel player that night.That made me think that maybe all of that fassing about 4,5 or 10 knee levers with 8,9 or 10 pedals and 11,12 or 14 strings on two,three necks with double stops and counter forces is meaningless.What count is what you have in your heart.

[This message was edited by Damir Besic on 25 August 2002 at 03:25 PM.]

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Back when Don Helms and the other "great ones" were busily making their mark on the recording industry.......and helping to shape the signature sounds of some of America's early day STAR vocalists, they had only to THINK about WHAT they were going to play at any given point/on any given tune.
The guitars they purchased, the amps they chose to play thro', the color of the picks and the size/dimensions of the bar they selected was "THEIR CHOICE".
There seems to have been little/if any, competition with other steel players. IN some instances, a steelman might have delivered a chorus sounding like another steel player, usually at the direction of the vocalist.
However, today, it seems everyone is attempting to copy every lick that someone else has done and the personal identity has all but vanished. It's been a great loss to the industry. So many steelers with great talent have been reduced to an unidentifiable sound in still another orchestra.
YOUR HEARTFELT PLAYING.....coming from your deepest inner self...should be identifiable to your public. Just the tho'ts of an old man that never made it to Nashville.

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Ray, what you just said is the core of a good steel guitarist. Right on from a younger player!

Abe Stoklasa · From: Nashville, TN

Quote:
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Based on my observations, it appears he was the "Paul Franklin, Jr." of that era as he was on so many recording sessions with so many of the top artists of that time.
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I wouldn't say that at all. The two are totally uncomparable. Don Helms IS the Don Helms of every generation.

Paul Franklin is Paul Franklin. No one is the next Don Helms or Paul Franklin. No one can do what they do.

Getting back to Don. He, single handedly is the reason I started playing steel in the first place. I owe him my whole musical career that lies before me. Don, You're my hero!

Abraham

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