last time i saw him was 1973 here at the Glen for the Summer Jam... Prayers up
Posted on 04/17/2012 5:06:09 PM PDT by Terry Mross
Dear Friends, Levon is in the final stages of his battle with cancer. Please send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey.
Thank you fans and music lovers who have made his life so filled with joy and celebration... he has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance! He did it every time he took the stage...
We appreciate all the love and support and concern. From his daughter Amy, and wife Sandy
(Excerpt) Read more at levonhelm.com ...
Sad news, that. Far better musician than a great many of his contemporaries, including some that wrote songs about him . . .
The Band ping
Back in the early 70s I played at a little American Legion Club in Marvell, Arkansas. We were told Levon played there as a young man. I always felt it was an honor to have stood on the same stage.
I also worked at KFFA in Helena. Levon said as a kid he used to listen to the King Biscuit Radio Show every day and was heavily influenced by the blues players from that area.
I loved this man’s music and I pray for him and his family.
The Last Waltz was the best thing Scorcese ever did.
Levon Helm is one of three lead singers.
If you don't know the history behind this song, search it. It could come to us all.
last time i saw him was 1973 here at the Glen for the Summer Jam... Prayers up
Prayers up. A great talent, heading home.
I worked with a disc Jockey who grew up in Helena, Arkansas and worked there all his life. He told me that Ronnie Hawkins and Conway Twitty used to play at “battle of the bands” gigs. Said Hawkins one everytime and Harold Jenkins and the Ridgerunners (Conway) had to pack up and go home. Hawkins moved to Canada and later brought Levon up with him.
As much as I like the various member's solo work, it still has a hard time comparing to the raw spirit of The Band.
Brings tears to my eyes.
One of my favorites. Prayers for Levon.
I was lucky enough to see Levon at Floyd Fest 2 summers ago what a great experience. He was great. When I heard the news today I listened to Dirt Farmer all the way home. It was amazing he was able to make this album after having throat cancer.
It’s very hard to get a group of musicians together who can get along. I put a band together once. Man, we were tight! None of us liked each other was the problem.
It's kind of an odd aside, but a roadie for a Grateful Dead cover band once told me that he knew it would be a good show when they came in pi**ed off at each other. "Call me a crappy bass player? Take THIS!"
I always tried to help my band buddies but it takes something intangible to break out. Talent alone isn't enough.
Her fiance was driving the pickup, she was in the middle, and I was in the passenger seat. And Up On Cripple Creek came over the radio, and both of us guys started belting out the chorus like a couple of wounded screech owls.
She never knew what hit her.
The man is a believer! Came from the dirt farms of the Arkansas Delta. Born in Marvell, Arkansas and grew up in Turkey Scratch on a cotton farm.
Now that I've gotten old, I actually listen to those bands and have come to appreciate them.......
Lol!
I so hate to hear this. The Band was beyond brilliant. There won’t be another. I hope your journey is peaceful...........
Saw him perform in Winnipeg 2010. Had the crowd jumping.
Prayers up for Mr. Helm.
One of the most beautiful rock songs ever written IMO.
perfect. I just posted this to my Facebook page.
His recent albums have been superb!
Thanks for the thread!!
My favorite:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RjqcTsxx-8
The Last Waltz = “Ophelia”
Most beautiful and poignant and relevant, IMO.
Acadian Driftwood brings a tear to my eyes every single time I hear it. Time to pull out my Last Waltz DVD and give it a listen.
God Speed Mr. Helm.
Levon was a pretty fair actor, too. Did a great job in “The Right Stuff” as Jack Ridley, the Air Force officer who helped Chuck Yeager rig a broom handle to close the cockpit door of his Bell X-1, allowing him to break the sound barrier, despite broke ribs.
For sure. Saw a re-run of "The Right Stuff" on Turner Classic Movies a couple of weeks ago and I kept thinking the guy who played Chuck Yeager's buddy looked so familiar. When the credits rolled, danged if it wasn't Levon, all cleaned up and wearing the rank of a colonel!
As for "The Last Waltz" here's a copy & paste to my personal favorite...The Weight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-w9OclUnns&feature=fvsr
Thanks for great music, Levon, and prayers for you and your family are going up....
I agree. I love the tempo and the unpretentiousness of all the musicians and singers, unlike the way music videos are made since MTV signed on. And no politics.
BFL
.
sigh
The Band - The Last Waltz (finale)
Heartbreaking good.
Heartbreaking good.
Very sorry to hear this. I thought Levon had beat the throat cancer back around 2000 or so.
Levon started from humble beginnings (in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas) and went on to join one of the best groups that ever played acoustic/rock music. And he did it on his terms.
I highly recommend his book, “This Wheel’s On Fire”. Both his story, and the story of The Band.
Most folks who watch “The Last Waltz” don’t realize that much of the sound track was re-recorded in the studio, after the concert. Levon refused to re-dub afterwards — his singing and playing as heard in the movie is “as it was”.
Godspeed Levon.
And play on!
I was looking through some of my old albums a couple of weeks ago and noticed that Levon played on Martin Mull’s first album (self-titled), circa 1972. It’s a terrific album, good music. Forty years ago I bought that album. Gulp...
I saw The Band on one of their after retirement tours in the early 1980’s in Fayetteville, AR.
Awesome.
Levon also played Loretta Lynn’s daddy in COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER.
Indeed, an excellent actor. Gave a very compelling and believable performance in Coal Miner’s Daughter.
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