Musician Braxton Schuffert, who played in Hank Williams' band, has died at the age of 97.

The original Drifting Cowboys member passed away in hospital on Friday night (26Apr13) following an extended illness.

Schuffert had been receiving medical treatment since the Easter weekend in March (30-31Mar13), according to Beth Petty, manager of the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery, Alabama.

Petty tells the Montgomery Advertiser that Schuffert had remained active in the months leading up to his death: "He has a showcase in the museum. He always came down and sang for us, even as recently as February."