Guide Note

Levon Helm is an American musician best known as the drummer for the classic rock group, The Band. In 2007, Helm released his first solo album in 25 years, Dirt Farmer, which earned him a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album.

Fast Facts

Full Name: Mark Lavon Helm
Born: May 26, 1940
Genre: Rock, Folk, Blues, Country
Origin: Marvell, Ar, Arkansas
Active: 1957 - present
Record Labels: Capitol Records, Mobile Fidelity, MCA Records, Breeze Hill, Levon Helm Studios, Vanguard Records
Associated Groups: The Band, Levon Helm and the RCO All Stars, Levon Helm and the Hawks, Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band, The Levon Helm Band
Throat cancer and subsequent radiation treatments in the late 1990s left Helm unable to sing for years
Elton John's classic hit song "Levon" came from Helm; John and Bernie Taupin were big fans of The Band
Actor in several well-known films, most notably Coal Miner's Daughter and The Right Stuff

Career

Levon Helm got his start in the late 1950s playing drums for Ronnie Hawkins. The two of them formed a band with Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson, and when Hawkins left in the early 1960s, the band was named Levon and the Hawks. The band teamed up with Bob Dylan, and explored an electric sound, which wasn't popular at first. Helm took a two year break from the band, which relocated to Woodstock, New York to be closer to Dylan. Upon Helm's return, they renamed the group, The Band, and released "Music from Big Pink" in 1967.

In 1975, The Band released "The Basement Tapes," a double album of live recordings. In 1976 Helm appeared in The Last Waltz, Martin Scorsese's documentary concert film of The Band's farewell tour.

Since leaving The Band, Helm has released several solo albums, including "Levon Helm and the RCO All Stars," "Levon Helm," "American Son" and "Dirt Farmer." In the early 2000s, Helm began performing Midnight Rambles at his house in Woodstock. These concert jam sessions are open to the public.

Studio Albums or Notable Recordings

Categories

Entertainment | Music | Rock | Classic Rock | Folk

View Note History

Levon Helm

Also try: The Band

Also try: Robbie Robertson

The Mahalo Top 7

Official Site: Levon Helm
Official MySpace Page: Levon Helm
Wikipedia: Levon Helm
Biography: Levon Helm
Article: "Midnight Rambler" (2007)
Album Review: Dirt Farmer | Buy
Video: "Up On Cripple Creek" from The Last Waltz

Levon Helm News and Gossip

Google News Search: Levon Helm
Topix: Levon Helm News
Rolling Stone: "The Band's Levon Helm Rambles On" (2006)
NPR: The Band's Levon Helm, Making Music Again (2006)
Spinner: The Band's Levon Helm to Release First Album in 25 Years (2007)
Poughkeepsie Journal: "Levon Helm Overcomes Cancer, Bankruptcy" (2007)
Pitchfork: "Band's Levon Helm Helps Ida Prepare Prayers" (2007)

Levon Helm Music and MP3s

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Levon Helm Photos

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Levon Helm Videos

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Poughkeepsie Journal: Interview About Dirt Farmer
YouTube: "The Weight" from The Last Waltz
YouTube: "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" (Live)
YouTube: "Mean Woman Blues"
YouTube: On Drums, and Drumming
YouTube: Interview: CBS News

Levon Helm Lyrics, Tabs and Chords

Fan Site: The Band Lyrics and Guitar Chords
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Metro Lyrics: The Band

Levon Helm Profiles

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Levon Helm Biographies, Articles, and Blogs

Official Site: Levon Helm Biography
Last.fm: Levon Helm Biography
Metacritic.com: Dirt Farmer Reviews
Guardian Unlimited: Dirt Farmer Review (2007)
Culture Catch Blog Post: He Shall Be Levon: Then and Now (2007)
Highway Sightings Blog Post: Levon Helm (2007)
Bloc Critics: Music Review: Levon Helm Dirt Farmer (2007)
Courting Destiny: Levon Helm and The American Spirit (2007)
Leftover Cheese: Traditional Music Gets The Helm Treatment (2007)
elbo.ws Music Blog Search: Levon Helm
MOG: Levon Helm
Rolling Stone: The Band Drummer Levon Helm Rambles On: Levon Helm (2006)

Levon Helm On Tour

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Levon Helm Merchandise

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Amazon.com: Levon Helm Music | DVDs | Paperback
Barnes&Noble.com: This Wheel's On Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of The Band
eBay: Levon Helm Music | Memorabilia
CD Universe: Levon Helm
ARTISTdirect: Levon Helm

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