Drummer/Singer Levon Helm [The Band] 1940-2012

[Zoneboy]

Link

Musician Levon Helm of Woodstock, a Grammy-winning member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame who played Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Wembley Stadium in London, but found some of his biggest success staging house concerts in his Hudson Valley home, has died. He was 71.

"He went peacefully," said Larry Campbell, a part-time Woodstock resident who was music director of the Levon Helm Band.

Helm died of cancer. His family announced Tuesday that he was "in the final stages of his battle with cancer."

“I don’t think," said musician David Kraai of Gardiner, who saw Helm perform dozens of times, “I’ve ever seen anyone happier when they’re playing music than Levon Helm.”

Helm’s compelling and inspiring life story, in addition to the music he made, likely lied at the heart of his appeal for average, everyday folks. Though Helm was a rock star, many likely found a kindred soul in the 71-year-old, who overcame problems that can affect anybody — bankruptcy and throat cancer. Helm in 1998 underwent surgery and 28 radiation treatments for throat cancer.

''Music is food for the soul, food for the heart,'' Helm told the Journal in 2005. ''You've got to have a happy heart. Without music, your soul goes suffering.''

Born Mark Lavon Helm May 26, 1940, Helm helped redefine rock ‘n’ roll during the 1960s and 1970s as vocalist, drummer and mandolin player for The Band.

He carved out a musical legacy that will live on through signature singing on timeless Band songs like “The Weight” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” He will also be remembered for performances with his fellow members of rock music’s elite: Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band and Joe Walsh of The Eagles, among countless other notable names.

As new technology left the recording industry struggling to find its footing in recent years, Helm’s emphasis on family, friends and home at his Midnight Ramble house concerts in Woodstock allowed him to create his own live performance venue and release records on his own terms.

The Midnight Rambles built a steady audience and fueled a monster comeback that earned Helm three consecutive solo Grammys.

[Zoneboy]

[Zoneboy]

That's 3:

Dick Clark
Greg Ham
Levon Helm

[duckie]

We lost another classic rock & roll brother. RIP

[monkeefan]

CNN is confirming that Levon Helm has died of Cancer, at age 71.

Mark Lavon Helm was born in Marvell, Arkansas on May 31, 1940.

After relocating to Canada during the early 1960s, Helm met Canadians Robbie Robertson, Richard Manuel (who took his own life in 1986, aged 42), & Rick Danko (who died of a Massive Heart Attack in 1997, aged 53), who became the backup band for Bob Dylan, Hibbing, Minnesotas native son (though actually born in Duluth, Minnesota on May 24, 1941, but raised in Hibbing).

After leaving Dylan behind, The Band, as they christened themselves by this time, hit the road by themselves until disbanding in 1976.

In the 1980s, Levon began a 2nd career as an actor.

Levon Helm, dead of Cancer today at age 71, leaves behind his wife of 30 years, Sandy Dodd; a grown daughter, Amy, who is the lead vocalist/guitarist of her own music group, Ollabelle; and two grandsons.

[AKA]

Levon Helm really nailed the vocals on "The Weight," one of my favorite songs of all time, and had a great, distinctive drumming style. He will be missed.

Rest in peace, Mr. Helm.

[AKA]

Elton John is a huge fan of Levon Helm. Not only was the song "Levon" named after Mr. Helm, but nearly four decades later, Elton and his husband, David Furnish, named their son Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John.

[MickeyMac]

I am such of fan of the Band, Levon Helm will be missed.

[MrCleveland]

Originally Posted by Brad

Elton John is a huge fan of Levon Helm. Not only was the song "Levon" named after Mr. Helm, but nearly four decades later, Elton and his husband, David Furnish, named their son Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John.

I heard about that...sympathy for the Helm family.

[catlover79]