The Drifting Cowboys were Hank Williams' old band, including musicians such as fiddler Jerry Rivers, guitar picker Bob McNett, and Don Helms (1927-2008) one of country music's most influential steel guitar players. Like other classic country bands such as the Light Crust Doughboys, the group reunited numerous times over the decades, hosting a long, shifting cast of sidemen along with various older members. The band's name dates to Williams' earliest professional gigs, 'way back during the Great Depression, though the group really jelled into its classic lineup during Williams' waning years. They also packed Ray Price a lot, often because Hank had missed a show and Price was able to fill in. After Hank's death, they became Price's official backup band and later migrated into studio work and other gigs. Here's a quick look at the Drifting Cowboys "solo" work...
Hank Williams |
Tribute Albums
Drifting Cowboys Band "We Remember Hank Williams" (MGM Records, 1969) (LP)
Drifting Cowboys Band "The Best Of Hank Williams Drifting Cowboys Band" (Westwood Records, 1977) (LP)
Jim Owen & The Drifting Cowboys Band "A Song For Us All: A Salute To Hank Williams" (Epic Records, 1977) (LP)
Drifting Cowboys Band "The Best Of Hank Williams Drifting Cowboys Band" (Boll Weevil Records, 1979) (LP)
Drifting Cowboys Band "Tribute To Hank Williams" (Standing Stone Records, 1979) (LP)
Drifting Cowboys Band "Sing Along With..." (Look Records, 198-?) (LP)
(Hank Williams Original) Drifting Cowboys Band "Classic Instrumentals" (Delta Records, 1981) (LP)
(Hank Williams Original) Drifting Cowboys Band "One More Time Around" (Delta Records, 1983) (LP)
The Drifting Cowboys Band "Hank Williams Instrumentals" (Landmark Records, 2000) (LP)
A reissue of the Delta LP (above).
Related Records
Bob & Dean (McNett) "McNett Country" (Jewel Records) (LP)
A legendary local duo from Pennsylvania, Bob and Dean McNett led their band from the early 1960s almost to the end of the '70s, later taking a gig as part of the Hank Williams homage band, the Drifting Cowboys. This was an early '70s album, featuring covers of hits such as Mel Tillis's "Commercial Affection" and "Green Green Grass Of Home," while also dipping deep into older country traditions. Sadly, there are no real liner notes, so I'm not sure if there are any original tunes on here or not, or who was backing them on these sessions... Also, it has to be said that they sounded a bit over-the-hill, or at least low-energy, on this album... Maybe that was just their style, I dunno. They sound tremendously authentic and sincere, but just in musical terms this record might be a little inaccessible to the average twangfan. I like it, though, mostly for their real-hicks vibe. A reconstituted version of the McNett Country band came together in Y2K, and has been held together ever since, with second-generation singer Shawn and Tim McNett as the front men.
Links
Hick Music Index
