The Cowboys Time-Line

4/29/15 Smith "Hezzy" Adair born.

1/16/16 Freddy Beach is born in Leakesville, Miss.

2/22/16 Braxton Schuffert is born in Shelby County, AL.

7/17/17 Clent Holmes is born in Columbus, Miss.

11/16/18 "Uncle" William Herbert "Lum" York is born in Elmore, AL.

1/16/19 R.D. "Sonny" Norred is born in Sylacauga, AL.

1/14/20 Allen M. Dunkin is born in Perry County, AL.

2/1/22 Doyle Turner is born.

4/4/22 Ernest Carl "Wimpy" Jones is born.

5/24/22 Cois "Pee Wee" Elmo Moultrie is born in Sand Mnt, Alabama.

1/5/23 Weldon Edwin "Big Bill" Lister is born in Kennedy, TX.

7/19/23 Daniel Jack "Beanpole" Boling is born.

8/31/23 William Elon Smith is born.

10/20/23 Clyde "Boots" Harris is born in Henderson, Al.

11/14/23 Winston "Red" Todd is born.

2/2/24 Jimmy Wilkinson is born.

9/1/24 Rufus "Puddin" Taylor is born.

3/13/25 Millard "M.C." Jarrett is born.

10/16/25 Rupert Robert "Bob" McNett is born in Roaring Branch, PA.

11/11/25 Richard Paul Dennis, Jr is born.

??/??/26 Charles "Charlie" Hill is born in Crenshaw County AL.

11/27/26 Samuel K. "Sammy" Pruett is born.

1/13/27 Bernice Hilburn Turner is born in Black Rock, AR.

2/28/27 Donald "Shag" Hugh "Don" Helms is born in New Brockton, AL.

1/15/28 "Little" Joe "Penny" Pennington born in Plant City, FL.

3/11/28 Jimmy Porter is born.

4/21/28 Hillous Buel "Bew" Butrum is born in Lafayette, TN.

9/25/28 Jerry "Burrhead" Rivers is born in Miami, FL.

??/??/29 Jimmy Webster is born.

2/20/29 Clyde "Chris" Criswellis born in Penn.

1937/1938 Hank forms a band consisting of Braxton Schuffert, Freddy Beach and Hezzy Adair.

1938 Hezzy Adair, Braxton Schueffert, Freddy Beach & Hank Williams go out on a short tour supporting Jack Wolf (aka Jaun Lobo). Big Bill Lister makes his debut on KNEL in Brady, TX.

1939 "Pee Wee" Moultrie & "Mexican" Charlie Mays join the Cowboys.

11/5/1939 Hank & Cowboys (Pee Wee Moultrie, Hezzy Adair, Charlie Mays, & Caroline Parker) Appearance at the GA-ANA theatre in Georgiana, AL

1940 "Pee Wee" Moultrie leaves the Cowboys and joins Happy Jack and the Crysels.

11/18/1940 Hank writes his mother, Lillie, a letter from Handley, TX asking her to tell Pee Wee Moultrie & Jimmy Wilkerson to be ready to come to Texas when he calls.

1941 Jimmy Porter joins the Drifting Cowboys, taking over for "Boots" Harris. Harris leaves the Cowboys to join Curley William's Georgia Peach Picker.

7/??/1941 Big Bill Lister marries Lila Mayfield in Medina, TX.

1941 (fall/winter) Big Bill Lister moves to San Antonio, TX.

1941(late)-1942(?) Shorty Seals, Charlie Mays, (Indian) Joe Hatcher, Clyde (Boots) Harris. Also with in this time: Paul Dennis, Paul Compton, Millard (M.C.) Janett.

1943 Jimmy Porter leaves the Cowboys to join "Dad" Crysel & the Royal Hillbillies.

1944 Don Helms & Sammy Pruett join Hanks' Cowboys. Howard Watts became member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys. Lum York joins Cowboys, but remains for only 6 months. Doyle Turner marries Bernice Hilburn (Turner).

1945 Lum York rejoins the Cowboys. Doyle & Bernice Turner also join Cowboys. Don Helms & Sammy Pruett leave.

1945/1946 (Chris) Crisswell

2/2/1945 Clyde "Boots" Harris recording session with Curly Williams & The Georgia Peach Pickers. Recorded in Chicago for Columbia. Note: One song reccorded was, "Southern Belle (From Nashville, Tenn)".

1946 (summer) Big Bill Lister has a morning show on KTSA (6:45 am) and a noon show on KABC.

??/??/46 Jimmy Webster dies.

1946-1947 Lum York, Louis Brown, Winston (Red) Todd, Jimmy Webster

12/??/1946 Doyle & Bernice Turner leave the Cowboys. R.D. Norred joins the group.

1946(Summer) For a short time Hank forms a band that consists of E.B. Fulmer, Lefty Clark, & Lum York.

9/16-17/1946 Howard Watts recording sessions with Bill Monroe (Chicago,IL).

1947 Jimmy Porter leaves the Royal Hillbillies.

1947 (early) Joe Penny joins the Drifting Cowboys, taking over for Clyde Chriswell.

10/27-28/1947 Howard Watts recording session with Bill Monroe.

1947-1948 Don Helms (came & left), R.D. Norred, Joe Penny, Lum York, Winston (Red) Todd.

1948 Jimmy Porter joins the Army Air Force. Joe Penny leaves the Drifting Cowboys.

Jan. 1948 Howard Watts leaves Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys along with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.

Aug(?) 1948 Hank forms a band consisting of Lum York, Paul Dennis, & George Brown. They travel with him to Shreveport, Louisiana, but Dennis & Brown leave a short time later.

1949 Big Bill Lister does three recording sessions at KMAC Radio Station in San Antonio, TX. Note: The output from these sessions were released on the Everstate(#1006, 113, & 115) & the Pilgrim (1016) labels. Joe Penny enlists in the US Navy.

Jan/Feb(?)1949 Hank forms a group of Cowboys consisting of Clint Holmes, Bob McNett, Tony Francini, Lum York & Felton Pruett when he started working a Louisiana Hayride.

April(?) 1949 Hank disbands this group of Cowboys (Holmes, McNett, Francini, Pruett, York) when he leaves the Hayride.

July/Aug(?) 1949 Hank forms band consisting of Hillous Butrum, Jerry Rivers, Don Helms, Bob McNett when he moves to Nashville, TN.

Oct. 1949 Health & Happiness Shows recorded (over 2 days) with Hank Williams.

1/9-10/1950 Rivers, Helms, McNett, Butrum recording sessions with Hank Williams.

1950 (early) Joe Penny is released from the US Navy & moves to West Texas. Joins Lefy Frizzell's band.

2/8/1950 Braxton Schuffert recording session for MGM Records (Castle Studio). Songs released under the name Braxton Schooford.

5/??/1950 Bob McNett Leaves Replaced by Sammy Pruett

6/14/1950 Rivers, Helms, Pruett, Butrum recording session with Hank.

7/??/1950 Hillous Butrum Leaves Replaced by Howard Watts (Cedric Rainwater).

8/31/1950 Rivers, Helms, Pruett, Watts recording session with Hank Williams. Also on this session: Jack Shook.

12/21/1950 Rivers, Helms, Pruett and Watts recording session with Hank. Also on this session: Jack Shook.

12/30/1950 Butrum joins Hank Snow's Rainbow Ranch Boys.

1951 (late) Joe Penny leaves Lefty Frizzell's band for a job at the State Line Club in Hobbs, New Mexico.

1/??/1951 Big Bill Lister and Lila pack their things and move to Nashville, TN. giving up his radio shows on KTSA & KABC.

3/15/1951 Big Bill Lister recording session at Castle Studio in Nashville, TN.

3/16/1951 Rivers, Helms, Pruett, Watts recording session with Hank Williams. Also on this session: Owen Bradley & Jack Shook.

3/23/1951 Rivers, Helms, Pruett, Watts recording session with Hank. Also on session was Audrey Williams & Jack Shook.

3/25/1951 Hank & Cowboys appearance at the Coliseum in Evansville, Indiana. Note: Big Bill Lister states this date was his first performance with Hank & The Cowboys.

3/27/1951 Hank & Cowboys appearance at the Kintner Gynasium in Decatur, Illinois.

3/28/1951 Hank & Cowboys appearance at the Community Center in Centralia, Illinois.

3/29/1951 Hank & Cowboys appearance at the Arena Theatre in Peducah, Kentucky.

3/30/1951 Hank & Cowboys appearance at the High School in Mnt. Vernon, Illinois.

4/1/1951 Appearance at the Robinson Memorial Auditorium in Little Rock, Arkansas. 3:00 & 8:00 pm shows. Also on show Lefty Frizzell.

4/2/1951 Appearance at the Neville Auditorium in Monroe, Louisiana.

4/3/1951 Appearance at the High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

4/4/1951 Appearance at the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana.

4/5/1951 Appearance at the Schepps Palms Baseball Park in Corpus Christi, TX.

4/6/1951 Appearance at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

4/23/1951 Big Bill Lister recording session at Castle Studio in Nashville, TN. The Drifting Cowboys were doing backup (Helms, Rivers, Pruett, Watts).

6/1/1951 Rivers, Helms, Pruett, Watts recording session with Hank. Also on this session: Jack Shook.

7/25/1951 Rivers, Helms, Pruett, Watts recording session with Hank. Also on this session: Jack Shook.

8/10/1951 Rivers, Helms, Pruett, Watts recording session with Hank. Also on this session: Jack Shook.

10/25/1951 Big Bill Lister recording session at Castle Studio in Nashville, TN. The Drifting Cowboys were doing backup (Helms, Rivers, Pruett, Watts).

10/26/1951 Big Bill Lister recording session at Castle Studio in Nashville, TN. The Drifting Cowboys were doing backup (Helms, Rivers, Pruett, Watts). Note: One of the songs recorded was Hank's "Theres A Tear in my Beer."

12/11/1951 Rivers, Helms, Pruett, Watts recording session with Hank.

12/1951 This group of Cowboys are Disbanded (Rivers, Helms, Watts, Pruett).

1952 Lum York joins Lefty Frizzell's band. Sammy Pruett joins Carl Smith's Band, The Tunesmiths.

1/29-30/1952 Hank Williams concert in Richmond, VA. He got Don Helms and Howard Watts to join him. Rest of band filled out by local musicians.

1/31/1952 Hank Williams concert in Charleston, SC. He got Don Helms and Howard Watts to join him. Rest of band filled out by local musicians.

2/14/1952 Cowboys (Helms, Rivers, S. Pruett, Watts) recording session with Ray Price. Note: Two songs that were recorded are, "Talk to Your Heart" & "Move on in and Stay".

3/26/1952 Hank performs on Kate Smith TV show. He was backed by Helms, Billy Byrd, Jack Drake, & Grady Martin.

4/19/1952 Big Bill Lister recording session at KCOR Radio Station, San Antonio, TX.

4/23/1952 Hank performs on Kate Smith TV show. He was backed by Helms, Rivers, Grady Martin, Watts(?).

6/13/1952 Helms, Rivers recording session. Also on session: Chet Atkins & "Indian" Chuck Wright.

7/11/1952 Rivers, Helms, Watts recording session with Hank. Also on this session: Grady Martin & Jack Shook.

9/23/1952 Don Helms recording session with Hank Williams. Also on this session: "Lightin'" Chance, Tommy Jackson, Chet Atkins, & Farris Coursey.

11-12/1952 Hank goes on a tour through the Southeast and Florida. A.V. Bamford assembles a backing group including Ray Edmenton.

12/16/1952 Hank has a show in McDonna, TX. Note: His back up band was The Texas Top Hands, who Performed & recorded with Big Bill Lister (Still researching this appearance & the Top Hands).

1953 Lum York leaves Lefty Frizzell's band.

1/4/1953 Hank Williams' Funeral. Many Cowboys went to pay respects, including Braxton Schuffert, Don Helms, and Felton Pruett.

2/9/1953 Lum York recording session with Lefty Frizzell.

3/9/1953 Lum York recording session with Lefty Friizzell.

4/5/1953 Big Bill Lister recording session at Castle Studio in Nashville, TN. Don Helms, Jerry Rivers and Sammy Pruett are also on this session.

3/24/1954 Helms & Rivers recording session with Jimmie Logsdon at Castle Studio Nashville, TN (Decca).

11/16/54 Howard Watts recording session with Jimmy Martin & Osborne Brothers(RCA Studio. Nashville, TN.)

1955 Lum York takes a job with East Baton Rouge School Board.

7/8/1955 Cowboys (Helms, Rivers, S. Pruett, Watts) recording session with Ray Price. Note: One song that was recorded is, "I Can't Go Home Like This".

1/26/1956 Don Helms recording session with Jim Reeves.

5/4/1956 Don Helms recording session with the Louvin Brothers. Note: One song recorded was "Cash on the Barrelhead".

5/22/1956 Helms, Rivers, & Sammy Pruett recording session with Lefty Frizzell.

11/8/56 Don Helms recording session with Patsy Cline (Nashville, TN). Note: Owen Bradley was producer. One of the songs recorded was "Walking After Midnight".

1957 Don Helms joins the Wilburn Brothers' Band.

12/2-3/1958 Don Helms recording session with Lefty Frizzell.

5/26/1960 Don Helms recording session with Lefty Frizzell.

1962 Don Helms' records "Steel Guitar Sounds of Hank Williams" and "Don Helms' Steel Guitar" were released on Smash (SRS-67001 & SRS-67019). Doyle & Bernice Turner move to Memphis, Tn.

1964 Jerry Rivers' record "Fantastic Fiddlin' & Tall Tales" released on Starday (281).

1967 Jerry Rivers' book "Hank Williams: From Life to Legend" was published by Heather Publications. Jerry Rivers releases an album, "A New Frontier" (Little Darlin LD-4009), with his band The Homesteaders. Don Helms leaves the Wilburn Brothers' Band.

1/1/1968 Don Helms joins Hank Williams Jr's band, The Cheating Hearts.

1/1/1970 Howard "Cedric Rainwater" Watts dies in Nashville, TN.

9/15/1970 Smith "Hezzy" Adair dies in Montgomery, AL.

3/30/71 Ernest Carl "Wimpy" Jones dies.

9/23/71 Clyde "Chris" Criswell dies in Tampa, FL.

1972 Don Helms leaves Hank Williams Jr's band.

1974 Don Helms joins Ernest Tubb's band.

5/5/76 William Elon Smith dies.

1977 Drifting Cowboys (Helms, Butrum, Rivers, McNett) reunited. The Cowboys are in the movie "That's Country". Which also stared Lorne Greene, Ferlin Husky, Kitty Wells, Faron Young, etc.

1980 Doyle & Bernice Turner divorce.

7/??/1981 Joe Penny is involved in a near fatal car accident.

1982 Jimmy Day inducted into The Steel Guitar Players Hall of Fame.

1983 Lum York retires from his job with East Baton Rouge School Board.

8/20/1983 Cowboys do a show in Schaefferstown, PA (Firemen's Carnival).

1984 Don Helms inducted into The Steel Guitar Players Hall of Fame. Helms & Rivers recording session with D.L. Menard ("Cajun Saturday Night"-Rounder Records). Butrum and McNett retire once again. Helms and Rivers go on playing with two new members.

3/17/1988 Sammy Pruett dies in Birmingham, AL.

11/18/1988 Winston "Red" Todd dies.

6/4/1989 Jett Williams meets The her father's Cowboys, and later starts touring with them.

10/??/1989 Cowboys concert at Mobile, AL with Jett Williams.

8/3/91 Doyle Turner dies of emphysema in Panama City, FL.

12/22/1991 M.C. Jarret dies.

2/28/92 Jimmy Wilkinson dies.

5/24/92 Daniel Jack "Beanpole" Boling dies.

1994 Bernice Turner is injured in a car accident.

5/31/1994 Freddy Beach dies in Mobile, AL.

6/21/1995 Rupert Robert "Bob" McNett dies of Prostate Cancer Montgomery, PA.

1996 Hillous Butrum sales "Mother's Best" tapes to Legacy Entertainment Group, Inc.

3/14/1996 Dale Potter, dies in Puxico, MO.

10/4/1996 Jerry Rivers dies of Cancer Nashville, TN.

3/28-29/1997 Don Helms attends/performs Smokey Mountain Steel Guitar Jamboree at Knoxville, TN.

9/26/1998 Big Bill Lister recording session at Brady National Bank Community Room (Brady, TX).

1/22/1999 Jimmy Day dies.

5/22/99 Rufus "Puddin" Taylor dies.

2000 Big Bill Lister releases a new CD, "Remembering Hank Williams through Song and Stories", on Neon Nightmare Records.

1/8/2000 Don Helms attends the western Oklamhoma's Country Jamboree (Clinton, OK).

4/27/02 Hillous Buel "Bew" Butrum dies in Nashville, TN.

6/28/02 Richard Paul Dennis, Jr dies.

10/22/03 Clyde "Boots" Harris dies in Jackson, MS.

8/15/04 "Lum" York dies in Baton Rouge, LA.

The Drifting Cowboys Website