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View Full Version : Levon Helm has Passed Away at 71



Troubadour
04-17-2012, 05:50 PM
Levon's wife and daughter posted this message on his Facebook page a little earlier:

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

I am absolutely heartbroken. I have been crying my eyes out for the past hour... I know he has had an incredible life, but this is just so sad. What a wonderful singer, drummer and all-round musician he is. A true gentleman, too. I was just watching 'The Last Waltz' on DVD today. :(

On a selfish note, I am gutted that I will never get to see him play live... Attending one of his Midnight Rambles in Woodstock, NY has been on my wishlist for a long time. I naively always thought I'd make it. Thoughts, of course, are with Levon and his family right now.

Freypower
04-17-2012, 05:52 PM
I had no idea about this. How sad.

Glennsallnighter
04-17-2012, 05:56 PM
Very sad indeed. Thoughts and prayers with him and his family.You mind yourself too Lou :hug:

VAisForEagleLovers
04-17-2012, 05:58 PM
I wondered what was going on, JD Souther put a tribute of sorts on his Facebook page.
"Brother Levon Helm (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Levon-Helm/99136623527), I can honestly say that playing The Midnight Ramble with you and your family at the farm was probably the most thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying experience of my career. You have meant more to me and, I think, to most musicians that we could possibly say in a few words. Thank you for being a great musician, songwriter,creating the template for singing drummers, and for instantly taking me into your family of friends without hesitation the moment I walked into your kitchen and starting talking to Muddy. You offered me a drink, I said;"whacha got', you said; "how 'bout a grape soda" and I felt home.....still do. Will miss you terribly but your light is bright and will not be dimmed. JD Souther "

Troubadour
04-17-2012, 06:11 PM
That is a lovely tribute.

Topkat
04-17-2012, 06:48 PM
Rolling Stone did an article on him & some of his best songs
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/listen-to-levon-helms-finest-moments-from-the-weight-to-atlantic-city-20120417

sodascouts
04-18-2012, 01:56 AM
How sad! I'll be praying for him and his family.

Prettymaid
04-18-2012, 07:25 AM
Oh no! I didn't know about this either. Thanks for sharing the news Troub, sad as it is. His music will live on forever.

TimothyBFan
04-18-2012, 08:36 AM
I knew he was bad but didn't realize he'd gotten this bad till I got your text yesterday, Lou. I'm thinking of him.

He is such a nice guy which I realized right away the day I picked up the phone at my friend's house and he announced himself. I was so nervous, but he put me at ease right off by cracking a joke. She said she remembered how nice he was to her as a child when they were in the movie the Dollmaker together and he had stayed in touch with her all this time. She is, to say the least, saddened by this, I'm sure.

Hope his family, friends and fans find comfort in the fact that he has touched so many lives so positively.

And Lou, of course I'm thinking of you also because I know how much he and his music have meant to you over the years. :hug:

Windeagle
04-18-2012, 09:20 AM
Wow, that explains it. He had a show scheduled at the Hampton Beach Casino on March 30, but it was cancelled that morning with no explanation.

I was fortunate enough to see him play with Joe Walsh in Red Bank, NJ last fall. He only played on one song (RMW), but the love in that room was so thick you could feel it. Joe's regular drummer stayed in to dual-drum and you could see on his face that this was a dream come true for him. Levon looked a bit frail when he walked to and from the stage, but you'd never have known it when he sat down behind those drums.

My husband didn't know who he was (he's not a music fan), but I told him, "Just enjoy. He's a legend." My thoughts go out to his family.

Brooke
04-18-2012, 10:49 AM
This is very sad news. I will also pray for him and his family.

SteveJoburg
04-18-2012, 11:26 AM
I saw this early morning our time, so I've had a few hours to digest it. One of the true greats... Apart from The Last Waltz, his appearance along with Garth Hudson on Roger Water's The Wall Live In Berlin concert from 1990 is one of my favourite bits of viewing. Very sad and sending positive thoughts and wishes. I have to say though, I just love this... So true...


My husband didn't know who he was (he's not a music fan), but I told him, "Just enjoy. He's a legend."

SteveJoburg
04-19-2012, 08:09 AM
Another of my favourite singer songwriters, singing a stunning song about the man himself... Been playing in my head since I saw the post from Levon's family. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUfFus9tJpE

TimothyBFan
04-19-2012, 08:51 AM
This is what Robbie Robertson posted on his FB page yesterday:


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

I didn't realize that Amy's Mom was now married to Donald Fagen. Maybe Levon had it in his biography which I've never read. I hate to say it, but I suppose I should buy it now if I ever want to read it because it will be to expensive once he passes. I made that mistake with Davy Jones and will never be able to afford it now. It's sad people feel they can make an extra buck off of someone's death. :worried:

Troubadour
04-19-2012, 11:58 AM
It warms my heart to know that Robbie was able to see Levon and make peace one last time. The power of music, creativity and friendship binds people together in a special way, despite all of those disagreements over royalties. I'm sure they seem pretty insignificant now. I actually thought the same as Robbie - that Levon had beaten throat cancer. I guess his family kept the fact that it had returned fairly quiet. I'm sure he just wanted to play and make people feel good for as long as he possibly could. I am glad that he is getting to see all of the Facebook messages that fans and friends have been sending over the past few days... To know that you mean so much to so many people, of all ages, all over the globe, must be quite incredible. I am still tremendously sad but I'm sure Levon would agree that you can't really ask for more out of life. He will leave such an amazing legacy behind... and I like the thought that he might just be jamming again with Rick and Richard sometime soon.

SteveJoburg
04-19-2012, 03:32 PM
From Levon Helm's website:

Levon Helm passed peacefully this afternoon. He was surrounded by family, friends and band mates and will be remembered by all he touched as a brilliant musician and a beautiful soul.

EagleLady
04-19-2012, 03:33 PM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/19/levon-helm-dead-the-band-cancer-battle_n_1434772.html

RIP :sad:

sodascouts
04-19-2012, 03:37 PM
So very sad. What a loss.

(Note: I moved the posts about his illness over here to this thread because I think a thread dedicated to him in "Singing for the Sake of the Song" should be focused on his music rather than his final illness and death.)

Troubadour
04-19-2012, 04:30 PM
Rest in peace, Levon. I am heartbroken, but thinking of the good stuff... What a life. Love and comfort going to his family and close friends at this difficult time. He will be missed.

sodascouts
04-19-2012, 05:18 PM
Did you guys know he played drums and sang backup on a Joe Walsh track once?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7So8Zur4eY

R.I.P.

VAisForEagleLovers
04-19-2012, 05:45 PM
WindEagle got to hear him play with Joe on RMW last October. I was just re-reading the review.

Freypower
04-19-2012, 06:13 PM
This is incredibly sad.

Now Robbie & Garth are the only Band members still alive.

TimothyBFan
04-19-2012, 06:13 PM
Haven't checked the Joe on Twitter thread but here's what he had to say a bit ago.


RIP Levon Helm - my brother. Thank you for the love, the music and all our memories.

Prettymaid
04-19-2012, 06:25 PM
I'm sure they all have fond memories of making music with each other.



If there's a rock & roll heaven, you know they've got a hell of a band. RIP Levon.

TimothyBFan
04-19-2012, 06:42 PM
Sirius Classic Vinyl are having wonderful tributes to him from the DJs, artists that remember working with him and they are having a spot between songs periodically honoring him.

Troubadour
04-19-2012, 06:46 PM
So many people are posting tributes on FB and elsewhere... Fellow Band member, Garth Hudson, just wrote a lovely message. I can't copy and paste it because I'm on my phone at work, but perhaps someone else can.

TimothyBFan
04-19-2012, 06:48 PM
Here's what Garth had to say:


LEVON HELM LEFT US TODAY AT 1:30 PM, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012. I AM TERRIBLY SAD. THANK YOU FOR 50 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP AND MUSIC. MEMORIES THAT LIVE ON WITH US. NO MORE SORROWS, NO MORE TROUBLES, NO MORE PAIN. HE WENT PEACEFULLY TO THAT BEAUTIFUL MARVELOUS WONDERFUL PLACE. HE WAS BUDDY RICH'S FAVORITE ROCK DRUMMER ... AND MY FRIEND. LEVON, I'M PROUD OF YOU.
-Garth

Prettymaid
04-19-2012, 06:56 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYmtRdouAoA&feature=related

Troubadour
04-19-2012, 07:10 PM
Thanks, Willie.

One of my service users just switched onto another TV channel and the credits of a film were rolling. I happened to look up and the first name I saw was Levon Helm. The universe is a funny place...

VAisForEagleLovers
04-19-2012, 09:57 PM
Joe posted this on his Facebook page. Joe, Ringo, Levon, and Clarence Clemons.

RIP Levon Helm - my brother. Thank you for the love, the music and all our memories.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDnwD550zoM&feature=youtu.be

sodascouts
04-19-2012, 10:15 PM
How appropriate that it starts with "Amazing Grace."

Clarence Clemens also gone... Man.

VAisForEagleLovers
04-20-2012, 11:41 PM
Another with Joe and Levon, includes Ringo and Clarence, too. Nils Lofgren, Rick Danko, Dr. John, Billy Preston, Jim Keltner. Up on Cripple Creek.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/c6PI_IOw1JQ?

Ive always been a dreamer
04-21-2012, 01:32 PM
Wow - this is very sad ... another talented soul lost too soon. Like others, I didn't realize his cancer had reappeared until I read it here earlier this week. I just remember about Windeagle seeing him with Joe last fall and I thought all was well. I loved Joe's simple touching tribute to Levon. My heart goes out to all of his family and friends.

R.I.P. Levon.

WalshFan88
04-21-2012, 07:17 PM
I like a few songs by the Band. Especially "The Weight".

RIP!

VAisForEagleLovers
04-23-2012, 11:36 AM
I just heard on KLOS that the viewing and memorial service are on Thursday.

VAisForEagleLovers
04-14-2015, 11:22 PM
There will be an Open House to honor his legacy at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2015/04/14/levon-helm-open-house/25785877/