William Herbert York

William Herbert "Lum" York (November 16, 1918 – August 15, 2004) was a country musician best known as the bass player in the Hank Williams backing band The Drifting Cowboys.

Biography

York was a native of Elmore, Alabama.[1]

From 1944 until 1949, he was a member of Hank Williams's backing band The Drifting Cowboys as its double bass player.[1] He began playing with Lefty Frizzell's band in 1952 and later played with musicians including Marty Robbins and George Morgan (singer).[2]

During the 1960s and 1970s, he played at the Old South Jamboree.[2] In 1986, he played at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.[2] After a heart attack forced him to stop playing the double bass, York began playing the spoons from 1998 onwards, playing alongside Hank Williams Jr., Hank Williams III and Jett Williams.[2]

York died of heart disease on August 15, 2004 in Baton Rouge.[1]

Reference

  1. ^ a b c "Musician 'Lum' York dies at 85". Sun Herald. August 18, 2004. p. 10. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "'Lum' York, musician, played bass, spoons". The Atlanta Constitution. August 19, 2004. C6. Retrieved May 7, 2024.