Topic: Levon Helm has died

[Mr.OMuck]

I don't know about the rest of you but for my money he was the best r &r drummer & one of the greatest voices in American music. A great loss. It might not have been country Blues but whatever it was it was great.

[Stuart]

I agree 1000%, Phil. Simply pure talent and personality. He gave us a lot of great music and will be missed.

From the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/20/arts/music/levon-helm-drummer-and-singer-dies-at-71.html?_r=1&hp

Edited to add -- From the NY Times article:

"Nearly to the end, Mr. Helm spent his life on the bandstand. 'If it doesn’t come from your heart,' he wrote, 'music just doesn’t work.'"

If this quote doesn't  belong in the generator, then I don't know what does.

[uncle bud]

Sad news. I agree, one of the great voices, gone.

[Johnm]

He was a wonderful singer and very fine player, and a natural and convincing actor, too.  He did really fine jobs in "Coal Miner's Daughter" and "The Right Stuff".

[Bald Melon Jefferson]

Still remember where I was...who I was with when Music From Big Pink first hit the turntable. It may as well have come from Mars compared to everything else I was listening to at the time. It still stands up today as much as ever. And Phil I really think it pointed me down a road that led me to the fork in the road, ( I' won't say crossroads...just because), that led me to country blues. American music baby!

[uncle bud]

Here's a great clip of Levon (and a little Richard Manuel) talking about the early days at Big Pink.

Levon Helm and Richard Manuel.

[Gumbo]

Levon Helm - When I Go Away

'nuff said

[Pan]

Wolfgang's Vault has put out some live footage to pay tribute to Levon Helm:

http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/blog/index.php/2012/04/levon-helm-dirt-farmer-american-minstrel/

Pan

[Mike Billo]

  I can think of very few, other Singers, who had the ability to, so totally, drag you into the song by just singing the first opening lines.
  "The Weight", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and others.
  As soon as you heard those opening lines you were transfixed.
 I know I certainly was.

[Rivers]

Rest in peace Levon, you are already greatly missed. I will always treasure the memory of, as a young kid, seeing the Band at the Albert Hall, London, on their first UK tour.

All the great music he has lent his hand to since then, and the various writings and interviews, confirmed my lifelong respect for Mr Helm. Today is the sad end of an era.

[Eric Hubbard]

Yes, one of the good ones.

[Mr.OMuck]

The great Bobby the Dylan song about our Man Blind Willie McTell as only Rick Danko & Levon could sing it!

http://youtu.be/vxNcRT06WgM

[Rivers]

Thanks O'Muck, great song, great performance, I had not heard that version before.

[unezrider]

his fight with cancer is finally over. sad news, but glad he is no longer suffering.

thanks for all the wonderful music, levon!

[Stuart]

From the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/nyregion/thousands-remember-levon-helm-of-the-band-in-woodstock.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB