Ernest Tubb band with Don Helms and Billy Byrd in the 1970's

Gary Schwartz · Post by **Gary Schwartz** » 26 Aug 2021 10:08 pm

I went to see Ernest Tubb at a venue north of Minneapolis/St. Paul some time in the 1970's. I was pleasantly surprized that Don Helms and Billy Byrd where in the band. Does anyone remember where or when this was?

Jerry Jones · Post by **Jerry Jones** » 27 Aug 2021 3:57 am

That stage looks the same as this shot of Gene Vincent with Sherwin Linton taken at the Frontier Club.

The ad says Ernest Tubb played April 12, 1974

The club was distroyed by fire in Nov. 1975

Charlie Hansen · Post by **Charlie Hansen** » 27 Aug 2021 4:40 am

I see an old Traynor amp head in the back. Almost looks like a Vocal Master.
I remember seeing Ernest in the mid-seventies at the Horseshoe in Toronto with Don Helms but I think the guitar player's name was Pete Mitchell (Michaud) and he was from, maybe, Blind River, ON.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 27 Aug 2021 8:00 am

Not everyday you see a pic of the great Don Helms sitting behind a pedal guitar. As a native of the Twin Cities area, I remember the old Frontier up in friendly Fridley. Never played there; was playing in a blues/rock band at that point in time. I didn't acquire a pedal steel until several years after it burnt down. No doubt Al Udeen could tell a few stories about that place.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 27 Aug 2021 9:02 am

I saw Ernest Tubb and the band at a county fair in the '60s, I believe.
He had Buddy Charlton playing steel and doing an excellent job!!

Jim R. Harrison · Post by **Jim R. Harrison** » 27 Aug 2021 11:36 am

I first saw Don Helms on pedal steel guitar in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, April, 1968, accompanying Hank Williams Jr.

W. C. Edgar · Post by **W. C. Edgar** » 27 Aug 2021 8:55 pm

Really cool post!
I went to see ET one cold below zero night in Hutchinson KS and Ron Elliott was filling in for Lynn Owsley on that tour
Ron hooked me up with Duane Marrs and I went on to have 4 of Duane's D-10's
Ron played all the parts well just like he'd been there forever

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 29 Aug 2021 7:44 am

I saw that line-up at the Midnight Jamboree. I was glad to see both Billy and Don.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 30 Aug 2021 1:20 pm

Jim R. Harrison wrote:I first saw Don Helms on pedal steel guitar in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, April, 1968, accompanying Hank Williams Jr.

Augusta Ga Early 70s, one of the local PSG wannabes ran out and purchased a D-12 like Don was playing, later went "goofy", decided to get married, was going to send it back, I got it for $350, no more than 6 months old...Made a lot of $$$ with that machine.

Bill

Gary Schwartz · Post by **Gary Schwartz** » 31 Aug 2021 1:42 pm

Jerry Jones - thanks very much for identifying where and when E.T. and crew played. What a classic lineup! During the breaks, the band just sat at tables by the stage. We got to chat with Don Helms and Billy Byrd. They were very friendly and talked of all the people that they had played with. On one of the breaks Ernest Tubb joined the band at a table. He was very nice as well. I saw Ernest once again at a later show when Lynn Owsley and Pete Mitchell were in the group.