Born on this day in 1940, Levon Helm

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/

1940, Born on this day, Levon Helm, drummer and singer with The Band. He died of throat cancer aged 71 on 19th April 2012. Helm formed his own high school band, the Jungle Bush Beaters, at 17, he later joined The Hawks (Ronnie Hawkins's backing group), who then became known as The Band and also backed Bob Dylan on his US tour in 1965 and world tour in 1966. Helm sang on Band classics like 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,' 'Up on Cripple Creek,' 'Rag Mama Rag,' and 'The Weight.'

Levon Helm

Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm (May 26, 1940 – April 19, 2012) was an American musician and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and one of the vocalists for The Band. Helm was known for his deeply soulful, country-accented voice, multi-instrumental ability, and creative drumming style, highlighted on many of the Band's recordings, such as "The Weight", "Up on Cripple Creek", and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down".

Since Tom Wolfe just died, let's start with this:

From a great film

[hlthe2b]

1. Loved Levon... RIP, sir, you are missed.

[ghostsinthemachine]

2. I love Levon. Saw 3 shows on.his last tour

Including his New Orleans jazzfest show where everyone in NOLA. Came out for and jammed. The true heart and soul of THE BAND.

[Botany]

3. The Weight

Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog
Said, "I will fix your rag, if you'll take Jack, my dog"
I said, "Wait a minute Chester, you know, I'm a peaceful man"
He said, "That's okay, boy, won't you feed him when you can"

as song by Rick Danko.

[red dog 1]

4. After being diagnosed with throat cancer in the late 1990s, Levon Helm arranged concerts at his

Woodstock, New York home and studio known as "The Barn" to raise money for his medical bills and to resume performing.

These concerts were called "Midnight Ramble"

Artists who performed at the Rambles included:
- former Band mate, Garth Hudson
- Elvis Costello
- Emmylou Harris
- Dr. John
- Mavis Staples
- Billy Bob Thornton
- Kris Kristofferson
- Rickie Lee Jones
- Phil Lesh
- Jorma Kaukonen
- David Bromberg
and many others

He also was an actor, appearing in several dramatic films.
He was cast as Loretta Lynn's father in "Coal Miner's Daughter"
He played test pilot and engineer Capt. Jack Ridley in "The Right Stuff"
He played a Kentucky backwoods preacher in "Fire Down Below" (well-worth watching)
and other roles in other films as well.