The Drifting Cowboys were the backing group for American country legend and singer-songwriter

Hank Williams Hiram "Hank" Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. An early pioneer of country music, he is regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of the 20th century. W ...

. The band went through several lineups during Williams' career. The original lineup was formed in 1937, changing musicians from show to show until Williams signed with Sterling Records. The lineup was further modified in the following years, with the most famous version of the group formed in 1949 for Williams' appearance on the ''

Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a regular live country music, country-music Radio broadcasting, radio broadcast originating from Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, on WSM (AM), WSM, held between two and five nights per week, depending on the ...

''. Although the Drifting Cowboys were credited on Williams' records, until 1950, Williams was backed by session musicians on recordings, with the label crediting the Cowboys. In 1951, Williams disbanded the group. After his death, the band was used for a short time by Ray Price. Former members later toured under the name of the band.

History

Hank Williams formed the original Drifting Cowboys band between 1937 and 1938 in

Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama. Named for Continental Army major general Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River on the Gulf Coastal Plain. The population was 2 ...

. The name was derived from Williams' love of

Western film The Western is a film genre defined by the American Film Institute as films which are "set in the American West that mbodythe spirit, the struggle, and the demise of the new frontier." Generally set in the American frontier between the Calif ...

s, with him and the band wearing

cowboy hat The cowboy hat is a high-crowned, wide-brimmed hat best known as the defining piece of attire for the North American cowboy. Today it is worn by many people, and is particularly associated with ranch workers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, C ...

s and

boots A boot is a type of footwear. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle, while some also cover some part of the lower calf. Some boots extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is clearl ...

. The original line-up consisted of Braxton Schuffert (guitar), Freddie Beach (fiddle), and the comedian Smith "Hezzy" Adair. The youngest member of the band was thirteen-year-old steel guitar player James E. Porter. During the 1930s, the Drifting Cowboys varied from one show to another, with members playing a few shows before leaving and being replaced. In 1944, Don Helms joined the band playing the steel guitar, and Sammy Pruett on guitar, however both left the band after a year. When Williams signed with Sterling Records, he formed a new band: R.D Norred (steel guitar), Joe Pennington (guitar), Herbert "Lum" York (bass) and Winston Todd (guitar). Hank and Audrey Williams requested a loan to buy the band matching outfits that they wore on performances. The band was renewed by Williams for his first appearance on the ''

Louisiana Hayride ''Louisiana Hayride'' is a radio and later television country music show that was broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana; during its heyday from 1948 to 1960, it helped to launch the careers of some ...

'' in 1948, with Bob McNett (guitar), "Lum" York (bass), Tony Francini (fiddle), Felton Pruett (steel guitar) and Dent Holmes (guitar). For his June 1949 debut at the ''

'', Williams formed the most famous version of the Drifting Cowboys: Bob McNett (guitar), Hillous Butrum (bass), Jerry Rivers (fiddle) and Don Helms (steel guitar). Until 1950, Williams' songs were recorded with session musicians, with the label crediting the backing to the Drifting Cowboys Band. In 1950, McNett and Butrum left the band, being replaced by Sammy Pruett and Cedric Rainwater. In 1951, before undergoing back surgery and not knowing how long he would be unable to tour, Williams disbanded the group. During 1952, he was not backed by the Drifting Cowboys.Escott, ''Hank Williams'', p. 284 After his death, the band was used for a short time by Ray Price, until Price rebuilt his backing band in 1953 as the Cherokee Cowboys. Band members would later tour as the Drifting Cowboys for several years.

Members

;Original lineup *Braxton Schuffert – guitar *Freddie Beach – fiddle *Smith "Hezzy" Adair – bass, harmonica ;Main members * Don Helms – steel guitar * Jerry Rivers – fiddle *Bob McNett and Sammy Pruett – guitar * Hillous Butrum, Cedric Rainwater, Herbert "Lum" York – bass

Other members

*Felton Pruett *Clent Holmes * Joe Pennington *Lemuel Curtiss Crysel *Daniel Jack Boling *Louis Brown *Clyde Criswell *Zeke Crittenden *Little Joe Stanley *Richard Paul Dennis Jr *Allen Dunkin *Willie Harper *James Porter *Carl "Wimpy" Jones *Dan Furmanik *Bill Drake *Mitt (Ike) Isaiah DeRamus Sr.

References

External links

Most total information
{{Authority control American country music groups Hank Williams Musical backing groups