Drifting Cowboys Band

Gegründet : 1949, 14. Juli
Mitglieder : (original)
Don Helms - Steel Guitar, Vocals
* 28. Febr. 1927 in New Brockton, Alabama

Bob McNett - Guitar, Vocals
* 16. Okt. 1925 in Roaring Branch, Pennsylvania

Jerry Rivers - Fiddle, Vocals
* 25. Aug. 1928 in Nashville, Tennessee
† 04. Okt. 1996

Hillous B. Butrum - String Bass
* 21. April 1928 in Lafayette, Tennessee

spätere Mitglieder :
Cedric Rainwater - String Bass; Bobby Andrews - String Bass, Lead Vocals; Jimmy Heap, Jr. - Drums; Sammy Pruett - Guitar

Stil : Straight-Ahead Country

The Drifting Cowboys were the backing group for American music legend Hank Williams. Jerry Rivers was one of the top performers in the Drifting Cowboys. The band went through several lineups during Williams's career, and surviving members of the group continue to tour and make public appearances to this day. One modern day version of the group, the backing band for William's daughter Jett Williams, was led by original Drifting Cowboys steel guitarist Don Helms; another version of the group known as "Hank's Drifters" features original Drifting Cowboys members Clent Holmes and Pee Wee Moultrie. Moultrie, Holmes and Helms made many appearances with former Drifting Cowboys bassist Herbert "Lum" York until York's death in 2004. Former Drifting Cowboys lead guitarist Joe Pennington later became a pioneering Rockabilly artist and continues to tour and record both Country Music and Gospel Music. Another former Drifting Cowboy Hillous Butrum later became a successful record producer and pioneer in the field of music videos. Ray Price took over the band after Williams' death for a short time.