Levon Helm: A Thank-You Note For The Music / Helm visited in hospital by Robbie Robertson
Levon Helm: A Thank-You Note For The Music -- And The Example
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jesse-kornbluth/levon-helm-a-thankyou-not_b_1437271.html
He's the one who sang "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Up on Cripple Creek." He played Loretta Lynn's father in Coal Miner's Daughter. He's in rock's Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone called him one of the hundred best singers of all time, but he could just as easily be in the Guinness Book of World Records as the ultimate multi-tasker: a drummer who could deliver a unique beat even as he sang a rough-hewn lyric.
And now, Levon Helm's wife and daughter have announced, he is "in the final stages of his battle with cancer."
They have asked for prayers. No doubt that happened. So did thousands of loving messages on Facebook, which his wife and daughter say they have been reading to him.
How totally now.
And how ironic, considering that Levon Helm made music that sounds timeless and, mostly, looks back.
Rock legends die all the time --- for some, death is how they become legends -- and the rituals of modern mourning follow. But losing Levon Helm feels different. He's one of the few Authentics, he's one of the deans of the Old School. As his wife and daughter say, "He 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."
..more..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last week I was shocked and so saddened to hear that my old band mate, Levon, was in the final stages of his battle with cancer. It hit me really hard because I thought he had beaten throat cancer and had no idea that he was this ill. I spoke with his family and made arrangements to go and see him.
On Sunday I went to New York and visited him in the hospital. I sat with Levon for a good while..., and thought of the incredible and beautiful times we had together. It was heartwarming to be greeted by his lovely daughter Amy, whom I have known since she was born. Amy’s mother, Libby Titus, and her husband, Donald Fagen, were so kind to help walk me through this terrible time of sadness. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sandy.
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.
-Robbie Robertson
```
April 19, 2012 10:43 AM
Levon Helm visited in hospital by The Band's Robbie Robertson
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-57416363-10391698/levon-helm-visited-in-hospital-by-the-bands-robbie-robertson/
[IMG]
[/IMG]
= new reply since forum marked as read
For me, I remember when "Cripple Creek" 1st got released and the exposure it gave The Band. I didn't know much about them, but I remember thinking about how "old" the music sounded. Helm's vocalization on this song and others, harkened back to something I'd have expected to hear in the Civil War era, if they had electric instruments and recording capabilities. He had that authentic "old timey", backwoods sound with his quirky drumming that was so unique in the music world. He will be missed. Thanks for the memories, Levon - to a life well lived - 
Last edited Fri Apr 20, 2012, 01:33 AM - Edit history (1)
