Levon Helm, 71, only American in the Band, dies

[passionflower]

He just joined all the greats in heaven making beautiful music........R.I.P.

 

[LadyL]

In case for anyone who is interested that knows The Band's music, but not exactly who Mr. Helm is there's a neat tidbit.

The song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin where the verse almost I am sure half the free world knows or sings ".....and Jesus he wants to go to Venus, leave Levon far behind". They used that name for Mr. Helm.

Somewhere out there is an omage to Elton as well I think too via Levon.

I remember wondering if Elton John would name his son Levon?

[bbm]

he named him Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John

 

[octobermoon]

wfgodot,

You aren't prohibited from posting any music. You are a treasure trove

Found this one

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jREUrbGGrgM"]The Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - YouTube[/ame]

 

[wfgodot]

Isn't anyone going to post a video of Levon singing "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"? I'm prohibited from doing such a thing as I'm a damn Yankee from Bleeding Kansas and am thus of the sort that drove old Dixie down in the first place.

Requiescat in pace, Levon Helm. Basement Tapes, Big Pink, the second Band album - for those alone you deserve our unreserved praise, and you entertained us mightily for many more years as well.

At the Heavenly Gates I'm betting St. Peter asks for his autograph.

 

[wfgodot]

wfgodot,

You aren't prohibited from posting any music. You are a treasure trove

Found this one

The Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - YouTube

lololol, I'd just deleted my reply (now appears below the video) and was getting ready to write a new post including a link to the song, preambled by the words, "Well, hell, if no one else will, here it is anyway"!

 

[octobermoon]

Sad week for music legends. They are in my mind.

 

[Prancy]

Who is the female singing in this video?
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjCw3-YTffo"]The Band, The Weight - YouTube[/ame]

 

[wfgodot]

Who is the female singing in this video?
The Band, The Weight - YouTube

That's Mavis Staples.

 

[wfgodot]

Good, readable Village Voice obit:

Levon Helm, R.I.P.

 

[Elley Mae]

So Sad, one of my favorite dvd's "the last waltz"

 

[Trino]

Such a loss, a man that many younger Americans didn't have the opportunity to appreciate.

 

[hollyblue]

I am familiar with Robbie Robertson and his Indian music Music for The Native Americans; his new CD How to Become Clairvoyant is good. I'll listen to Levon with the clips posted here and also on Youtube.

robbie robertson - ghost dance - YouTube

I have this CD of RR's too.

Levon....RIP friend. :rose:

My favorite: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqJJdiG61jo&feature=related"]The Band & Friends - I Shall Be Released (11.25.1976) - YouTube[/ame]

ETA: This is a good video of visuals of Levon:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ism9itDvKTk&feature=related"]The Band-The Weight - YouTube[/ame]

 

[kline]

One of my all time favorite clips is Levon singing and drumming away jamming with J.I. Allison and Sonny Curtis and Bill Mauldin the surviving Crickets on 'Not Fade Away'in about 1996.