Editor, Times-Union: Levon Helm, the drummer/lead vocalist of The Band passed away on Thursday, April 19, at age 71. Best known for lead vocals on gems like “The Weight, “Up On Cripple Creek,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and “Rag Mama Rag” among others, Levon Helm and company also were Bob Dylan’s band in the studio and on tour when Dylan went “electric” and left his die-hard folk fans scratching their heads
The Band ended their Hall of Fame career with “The Last Waltz,” the 1978 Martin Scorsese directed film that included a who’s who of rock royalty joining the group for their last show at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom on November 25, 1976. Helm went on to play with a number of line-ups with varying results.
Diagnosed with throat cancer in 1999, he fought it off and continued touring with The Levon Helm Band and was able to release three Grammy-winning albums in a row. He was a resident of Woodstock, N.Y., and since 2005 held a weekly jam session in his barn/studio lovingly named “The Midnight Rambles.” Levon’s health turned for the worse over the last two months and led to the cancellation of a number of dates this year.
He peacefully passed away Thursday, April 19, surrounded by his family and bandmates.
Levon Helm was Bob Dylan’s “Bosom Buddy” and Buddy Rich’s “favorite rock drummer.” Elton John named a song after him and Woodstock has lost its diamond in the rough.
