Breaking news is that Levon Helm, the singer and drummer of The Band as well as a solo artist, just passed away, surrounded by family in friends. Heaven just got a great singer and drummer. Check out a recent interview with Helm, and check out this video of “The Weight” with John Hiatt. RIP man.
Also here is Helm’s haunting vocals on “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” from Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz.
On his Facebook page yesterday, The Band’s Robbie Robertson wrote of going to visit Helm one last time, concluding, “Levon is one of the most extraordinary talented people I’ve ever known and very much like an older brother to me. I am so grateful I got to see him one last time and will miss him and love him forever.” So will we all.
(Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)
sad news indeed. This is another instance (Jerry Garcia being the other) where I take someone’s existence as a given–Levon played a free gig for a big corn farm every fall and had Rambles at his place frequently–I just figured we’d get there another time. After all, he’s a neighbor when we’re upstate. I’m glad at least Mike got to see him at his Barn with the Black Crowes awhile back. I think we’ll drop off some flowers this weekend.