Mark Lavon Helm (born May 26, 1940), better know as Levon Helm, is an American rock musician most famous as the drummer for the rock group The Band. Helm is also known for his deeply soulful, country-style voice, and powerful drumming style highlighted on many of the The Band's recordings, such as "The Weight", "Up on Cripple Creek", "King Harvest", "Ophelia" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". Image File history File linksMetadata LevonHelmWoodstockNY2004. ... Woodstock, New York The name Woodstock is associated with two locales in New York. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Marvell is a city located in Phillips County, Arkansas. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... Blues is a vocal and instrumental musical form which evolved from African American spirituals, shouts, work songs and chants and has its earliest stylistic roots in West Africa. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Folk music can have a number of different meanings, including: Traditional music: The original meaning of the term folk music was synonymous with the term Traditional music, also often including World Music and Roots music; the term Traditional music was given its more specific meaning to distinguish it from the... A singer is a musician who uses their voice to produce music. ... A drummer in Action A drummer is a person who plays the drums, particularly the drum kit, marching percussion, or hand drums. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... In the music industry, record producer designates a person responsible for completing a master recording so that it is fit for release. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... Harry Belafonte singing, photograph by C. van Vechten Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with speech. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ... A mandolin is a small, stringed musical instrument which is plucked, strummed or a combination of both. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label, owned by EMI. // The Capitol Records company was founded by the songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1942, with the financial help of movie producer Buddy DeSylva and the business acumen of Glenn Wallichs, (1910-1971) (owner of Music City, at the... MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by Music Corporation of America (MCA). ... For other uses, see Band. ... Richard Starkey Jr, MBE (born 7 July 1940), known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an Academy Award and Grammy Award winning English musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer of The Beatles. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... “Instrumentalist” redirects here. ... A drummer in Action A drummer is a person who plays the drums, particularly the drum kit, marching percussion, or hand drums. ... For other uses, see Band. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... The Weight is the title of a 1968 song by The Band. ... The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down is a song written by Robbie Robertson and first recorded by The Band in 1969. ...

Biography

Early years

Helm was born in Marvell, Arkansas and began playing the guitar at the age of eight. Helm also played drums during his formative years and established his first band The Jungle Bush Beaters while in high school. He was influenced by the Grand Ole Opry and by R&B songs that he heard on radio station WLAC out of Nashville, Tennessee. Marvell is a city located in Phillips County, Arkansas. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee, and televised on Great American Country network. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... WLAC is a clear channel radio station based in Nashville, Tennessee, operating at 1510 kHz on the AM dial. ... Nickname: Location in Davidson County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates: Country United States State Tennessee Counties Davidson County Founded: 1779 Incorporated: 1806 Government  - Mayor Bill Purcell (D) Area  - City  526. ...

Helm became interested in rock and roll after attending an Elvis Presley concert. He moved from Arkansas to Memphis, Tennessee where he was influenced by Bo Diddley and Conway Twitty. At age 17 he was invited to join The Hawks, backing rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins. Soon after Helm joined The Hawks, they moved to Toronto, Ontario where, in 1959, they signed with Roulette Records and released several singles, including a few hits. Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,002 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... Bo Diddleys emphasis on rhythm largely influenced popular music, especially that of rock and roll in the 1960s. ... Twitty redirects here. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music to emerge during the 1950s. ... Ronnie Hawkins, born January 10, 1935 in Huntsville, Arkansas, United States, is a pioneering rock and roll musician and cousin to fellow rockabilly pioneer Dale Hawkins. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Diversity Our Strength Image:Toronto, Ontario Location. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Roulette Records is a record label which was started late 1956 by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Khals, but the label was soon sold to Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. ...

In the early 1960s Helm and Hawkins recruited an all-Canadian lineup of musicians: guitarist Robbie Robertson, bassist Rick Danko, pianist Richard Manuel and organist Garth Hudson. In 1963, the band parted ways with Hawkins and started touring under the name Levon and The Hawks and later to the Canadian Squires before finally changing back to The Hawks. They recorded two singles, but found little success. The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... the very definition of a guitarist is cody allen and taylor hines because of there un ending guitar skills and awsomnes. ... Jaime Robert Robertson (born July 5, 1943 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known for his membership in The Band. ... ||/ | @___oo / / / (__,,,,| ) /^) ^/ _) ) /^/ _) ) _ / / _) / )// || | )_) < > |(,,) )__) || / )___) | ____( )___) )___ ______(_______;;; __;;; A bassist is not a musician, so much as a guy or girl trying to play an instrument with four strings and a long neck. ... Richard Clare Rick Danko (December 29, 1942-December 10, 1999) was a Canadian musician and singer, probably best known as a member of The Band. ... A pianist is a person who plays the piano. ... Richard Manuel (April 3, 1943 – March 4, 1986) was a Canadian pianist, keyboardist, drummer, singer and songwriter best known for his membership in The Band. ... An organist is a musician who plays the organ, whether pipe or electronic. ... {{Infobox musical artist |Name = Garth Hudson |Img = |Img_capt = |Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist |Birth_name = Eric Garth Hudson |Alias = |Born = August 2, 1937 Windsor, Ontario |Died = |Origin = |Instrument = Organ, piano, keyboards, accordion, saxophone, synthesizer, Melodica Slide Trumpet, [[ |Genre = Rock and roll, rock, pop, Jazz, R&B, country, folk |Occupation = Solo artist, Session musician |Years_active...

The Band

Levon Helm performing in The Last Waltz.

By the mid 1960s, Bob Dylan was interested in performing electric rock music, and asked The Hawks to be his backing band. Disheartened by fans' negative response to Dylan's new sound, Helm returned to Arkansas for what turned out to be a two-year layoff, being replaced by Mickey Jones. During his absence, The Hawks had taken up residence in Woodstock, New York and began writing their own songs; Danko and Manuel also shared writing credits with Dylan on a few songs. Image File history File linksMetadata Levonhelmlastwaltzscreenshot. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Levonhelmlastwaltzscreenshot. ... Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, author, musician, and poet who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... Mickey Jones is an musician-turned-actor, (born June 10, 1941 in Houston, Texas, United States). ... Woodstock, New York The name Woodstock is associated with two locales in New York. ...

In 1967 Helm returned to the group, which by then was christened simply as The Band. They recorded Music From Big Pink, which catapulted them into stardom. On Big Pink, Manuel was the most prominent vocalist and Helm sang mainly backup, with the outstanding exception of "The Weight," but as Manuel's health deteriorated and Robertson's songwriting increasingly looked south for influence and direction, subsequent albums relied more and more on Helm's growling but eerily plaintive vocals (alone or in harmony with Danko). Singing lead, Helm brought out common elements in folk and blues vocal styles, often assuming the character of a kind of mythical Southern everyman, who witnesses bewildering events and reacts to them with wonder and rage. Helm played drums for perhaps 85% of The Band's songs, including most of those for which he sang lead. But the entire group was multi-instrumental, and often Helm would be found performing mandolin or 12-string rhythm guitar when Manuel played drums, and bass when Danko played fiddle.^[1] For other uses, see Band. ... Music From Big Pink is the 1968 debut album by folk-rock band The Band. ...

Helm remained with The Band until their 1976 farewell performance, The Last Waltz, which was recorded in a documentary film by Martin Scorsese. Although many now know Helm through his appearance in the concert film--a performance remarkable for the fact that Helm's vocal tracks appear substantially as he sang them during a grueling concert--he repudiated his involvement with the film shortly after the final scenes were shot and, in his autobiography, offers scathing criticisms of the film and of his former bandmate, Robertson, who produced the film. ^[2] Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Last Waltz was a concert by the Canadian-American rock group, The Band, held on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. ... Martin Marcantonio Luciano Scorsese (IPA: AmE: ; Ita: []) (born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, writer and producer and founder of the World Cinema Foundation. ...

With the breakup of The Band in its original form, Helm began working on a solo album Levon Helm and the RCO All Stars which was followed soon thereafter by Levon Helm. He recorded solo albums in 1980 and 1982 entitled American Son and (once again) Levon Helm. Helm also participated in a concept album. The Legend of Jesse James. released in 1980. Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

In 1983, The Band reunited without Robbie Robertson, but then Manuel committed suicide while on tour in 1986. Helm, Danko and Hudson continued in The Band, releasing the album Jericho in 1993 and High on the Hog in 1996. The last album from The Band to date was the 30th anniversary album Jubilation in 1998. Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Rather than surrender to US soldiers, the Mayor (Bürgermeister) of Leipzig, Germany, committed suicide along with his wife and daughter on April 20, 1945. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Jericho was the tenth long player by Canadian-American rockers The Band, and the first to feature the latter-day configuration of the group. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... High On The Hog was the eleventh album by Canadian-American rockers The Band, and arguably the weakest of their career. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jubilation was the twelfth and final album by Canadian-American rockers The Band. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

Acting, authorship

Helm has acted in several feature films, including Coal Miner's Daughter, a co-starring role with Wilfred Brimley in the 1988 movie End of the Line, and as Jack Ridley, the narrator of 1983's The Right Stuff. In 2005, he appeared in the film The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones and also played himself in the Canadian mockumentary, The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico. In 2007, he appeared in Shooter. He is currently filming another movie "In The Electric Mist" in Louisiana with Tommy Lee Jones. That is scheduled for release late 2007, early 2008. DVD cover Loretta Lynn published her autobiography, Coal Miners Daughter, in the mid-70s. ... Wilfred Brimley is an American actor, born in Salt Lake City, Utah on 27 September 1934. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... The Right Stuff is a 1979 book (ISBN 0374250332) by Tom Wolfe, and a 1983 film adapted from the book. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada is a 2005 drama film directed by Tommy Lee Jones (debut) and written by Guillermo Arriaga. ... For the musician, see Tommy Lee. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...

Helm published an autobiography entitled This Wheel's on Fire in 1993. This Wheels on Fire is the autobiography of actor and musician Levon Helm, focusing on his career as a member of the rock group The Band. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

Health problems, recovery

Helm was diagnosed with throat cancer in the 1990s. He underwent an arduous regimen of radiation treatments. Although the tumor was successfully removed, his vocal cords were damaged, and his clear, powerful tenor voice was replaced by a quiet rasp. In recent years, however, his voice has grown stronger and on November 27, 2004 he sang for the first time at one of his Ramble Sessions. Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ... is the 331st day of the year (332nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

As of 2006, Helm performs with his multi-genre band called The Levon Helm Band which features his daughter, Amy Helm, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Jimmy Vivino, Mike Merritt, Brian Mitchell, Erik Lawrence, Steven Bernstein and blues harmonica player Little Sammy Davis. He hosts Midnight Rambles at his home in Woodstock, New York that are open to the public. Artists who have performed at the Rambles include another one of Helm's former bandmates, Garth Hudson, as well as Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Donald Fagen of Steely Dan and Jimmy Vivino of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien's" The Max Weinberg 7. Others have been The Muddy Waters Tribute Band, Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Bow Thayer, Luther "Guitar" Junior Johnson, Ricki Lee Jones, Kate Taylor, Ollabelle, The Holmes Brothers, Catherine Russell, Johnny Johnson and more... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Woodstock, New York The name Woodstock is associated with two locales in New York. ... {{Infobox musical artist |Name = Garth Hudson |Img = |Img_capt = |Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist |Birth_name = Eric Garth Hudson |Alias = |Born = August 2, 1937 Windsor, Ontario |Died = |Origin = |Instrument = Organ, piano, keyboards, accordion, saxophone, synthesizer, Melodica Slide Trumpet, [[ |Genre = Rock and roll, rock, pop, Jazz, R&B, country, folk |Occupation = Solo artist, Session musician |Years_active... Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus August 25, 1954 in London) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. ... Emmylou Harris (b. ... Dr. John is the stage name of Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. ... Paul Shaffer (L) and Allen Toussaint on the September 7, 2005 show of The Late Show with David Letterman Allen Toussaint (born January 14, 1938) is an American musician, songwriter and record producer and one of the most influential figures in New Orleans R&B. In the 1960s and 1970s... Donald Jay Fagen (born January 10, 1948 in Passaic, New Jersey) is an American musician and songwriter, best known as co-writer, co-founder, singer, and pianist with the jazz-rock band Steely Dan. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not give much verifiable information about the subject. ... Late Night with Conan OBrien is an American late night talk show on NBC that is also syndicated worldwide. ... The Max Weinberg 7 members, (clockwise from far right) - Max Weinberg, Jimmy Vivino, Richie LaBamba Rosenberg, Jerry Vivino, Mark Pender, Scott Healy, and Mike Merritt The Max Weinberg 7 is the house band for the Late Night with Conan OBrien television program. ...

The Midnight Ramble is an outgrowth of an idea he explained to Martin Scorsese in The Last Waltz (and turned into a song by the Band, "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show"). Talking about rock and roll showmanship, he talked about the travelling medicine shows that would put on performances for communities. The Last Waltz was a concert by the Canadian-American rock group, The Band, held on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. ... Clark Stanleys Snake Oil Liniment. ...

"After the finale, they'd have the midnight ramble," Helm told Stoudemire. "The songs would get a little bit juicier. The jokes would get a little funnier and the prettiest dancer would really get down and shake it a few times. A lot of the rock and roll duck walks and moves came from that." Image:Duckwalking1. ...

Helm appeared at the Beacon Theater on March 16-17, 2007, which according to Imus in the Morning, was quite a rare occurrence. Dr. John and Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band, Govt. Mule) and Garth Hudson played at the concerts as well along with several other guests. The Alexis P. Sutter Band was the opening act. Dr. John is the stage name of Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. ... Warren Haynes (born April 6, 1960) is an American rock and blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter and long time member of The Allman Brothers Band. ... The original Allman Brothers Band The Allman Brothers Band is a pioneering and innovative Southern rock group from Macon, Georgia originally popular in the 1970s, described by Rolling Stones George Kimball in 1971 as the best . ... Govt Mule is a southern rock/jam band formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project, but has taken on a life of its own. ...

Trivia

• Elton John's 1971 hit "Levon" was named after Levon Helm.
• For drumming, Levon Helm has switched to the matched grip in recent years, making for a less-busy style of drumming as opposed to his years with The Band, when played with the traditional grip. ^[3]

Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Levon is a popular 1871 armenian king As usual with Taupin, the turks comitted a genocide in 1915 when levon was king of armenia they killed many many people but we got control of our land again by not giving up. ... Matched grip is a method of holding drum sticks and mallets to play percussion musical instruments in which each hand holds its stick in the same way. ... Traditional grip is a technique used to hold drum sticks to play percussion instruments. ...

References

External links

• Levon Helm's official website.
• Levon Helm at the Internet Movie Database
• Levon Helm's biography.i
• All Music Guide