Article: Farmer's lad who played steel guitar over a washtub to get the right sound ; Don Helms, whose steel guitar riffs helped define the sound of nearly all of country singer Hank Williams' hits, and who performed and recorded with a long list of other country greats, has died aged 81.

Don Helms, whose steel guitar riffs helped define the sound of nearly all of country singer Hank Williams' hits, and who performed and recorded with a long list of other country greats, has died aged 81.

Mr Helms played on more than 100 Hank Williams songs and on 10 of his 11 country hits.

After Hank Williams died in 1953, Mr Helms embarked on a long career as a performer and songwriter. His guitar can be heard on the Patsy Cline hit Walking After Midnight, Stonewall Jackson's Waterloo, the Louvin Brothers' Cash on the Barrelhead, and many others.

Donald Hugh Helms was born in New Brockton, Alabama, and grew up on the family farm. As a boy, he listened to the Texas swing music of Bob Wills ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!