Legendary steel guitar player to perform Saturday; Rollins House of Music slates free concert

Rollins House of Music will become a house of country music on Saturday as Don Helms performs.

Helms, one of the original Drifting Cowboys who provided backup music for Hank Williams Sr., is scheduled to perform 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21. The concert at Rollins House of Music, 206 E. Court St., is free and open to the public.

A Delta acoustic guitar will be given away at the end of the performance. Persons may register for the drawing in the store.

Ricky Rollins, owner of the music store, said he tries to provide something special for his customers every year. He said he held guitar clinics in the past, but he opted for a performance this year.

Helms is a steel-guitar player who performed with the likes of Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Loretta Lynn, Lefty Frizzell, Ray Price, Johnny Cash and Webb Pierce. His talent garnered him a spot in the Steel Guitar Players Hall of Fame in 1984.

While Helms may be 78 years old, he has no intention of ever retiring, said Nelson Ray, Helms' booking agent in West Tennessee and a friend for 47 years. Helms just returned from Great Britain and Sweden, where he toured last month with Jett Williams, the daughter of Hank Williams Sr.

Helms was born on a small farm near New Brockton, Ala., and bought a Silvertone lap steel and amp at the age of 15. Within two years, he found himself playing behind a local radio personality named Hank Williams. They struck up a friendship and began performing in small clubs and schoolhouses until Helms joined the military in 1945. Helms served two years in the military and

Helms rejoined Williams in 1949, performing in the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and making country music history.

Several of Williams' hits are said to be full of the rich sounds of Helms' steel guitar. Among those are "Cold, Cold Heart," "Why Don't You Love Me," "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "I Can't Help it if I'm Still in Love With You."

He also performed on Patsy Cline's first big hit, "Walking After Midnight," as well as Ernest Tubb's "Letters Have No Arms," Loretta Lynn's "Success" and Stonewall Jackson's "Waterloo."

In addition to working with Williams, Helms has performed with Ray Price, Ferlin Husky, the Wilburn Brothers, Carl Smith and Hank Williams Jr.

Saturday's free concert is one of three appearances Helms will make in West Tennessee this weekend. Ray said Helms' schedule includes the following:

* 8-10 p.m. Friday at the Country Junctions in Gadsden. He'll join Tommy Wolfe and the Hot Country Band. Ray said a small admission fee will be charged.

* 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Rollins House of Music, 206 E. Court St. Jeff McGuire, a guitar player, is putting together a backup band for the free performance.

* 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Cathey's Restaurant on the Highway 45 Bypass in Trenton. Helms will play with the Pete's Corner Band. Ray said there's no admission charge, but they plan to pass the hat.