Don Helms Dies at Age 81

 INPUT { behavior: url(http://www.countryhound.com/FCKeditor/editor/css/behaviors/hiddenfield.htc) ; }INPUT,TEXTAREA,SELECT,.FCK__Anchor,.FCK__PageBreak { behavior: url(http://www.countryhound.com/FCKeditor/editor/css/behaviors/disablehandles.htc) ; }TABLE { behavior: url(http://www.countryhound.com/FCKeditor/editor/css/behaviors/showtableborders.htc) ; }Don Helms, steel guitarist for Hank Williams Sr.’s Drifting Cowboys band, passed away Monday morning after an apparent heart attack. He was 81. Helms played guitar on over 100 of Williams songs, including “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “Cold, Cold Heart.” After Williams died Helms went on to play alongside other Country Music greats such as Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn. He also wrote songs for Hank Williams Jr. and others. Recently, Helms could be seen playing with the band Brazilbilly at Robert’s Western World, a downtown Nashville honky-tonk. He is survived by his wife, Hazel.