Levon Helm at Newport Folk Festival 2008 (photo credit WFUV Flickr Creative Commons non commercial)
Rock musician, actor and author Levon Helm is being remembered by many people since his death last week. Some are of those people famous and some like me, not. When I saw Levon Helm in The Last Waltz, it changed my live forever.
But the memories are strong. Share your remembrance of Levon if you like. Continue reading
Levon Helm at the Fredericton Harvest Blues and Jazz Festival 2011 (photo Stephen Pate)
Three hours ago his family posted this message on Facebook.
“Dear Friends,
Levon is in the final stages of his battle with cancer. Please send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey. …
Thank you fans and music lovers who have made his life so filled with joy and celebration… he has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance! He did it every time he took the stage…
We appreciate all the love and support and concern.
From his daughter Amy, and wife Sandy”
Update - Rock musician Levon Helm passes away
Bob Dylan singing Hazel with The Band at Winterland 1976 (image Wolfgang’s Vault)
(Updated) – Wolfgang’s Vault is showing raw black and white rushes from “The Last Waltz”.
They 52 videos are not perfect but they are fun to watch and show you how things look and sound before they get edited and mixed.
Dylan is bang on with his performances. The Band sounds ragged but right in places. Continue reading
Musician Robbie Robertson (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Fred Chartrand)
“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.” Hunter S. Thompson
Robbie Robertson was recently Robertson inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame. Robertson’s songwriting fame comes mainly from his work with The Band.
Update – Rock musician Levon Helm passes away
We loved The Band and their music. Guitarist Robbie Robertson is credited with writing most of their songs but according to band-mate Levon Helm Robertson stole them.
Before The Band, Robertson wrote no songs of any enduring interest. Continue reading
Dylan with The Band 1983, Shredni Volper, Levon Helm, Bob Dylan and Rick Danko at Lone Star Cafe, NYC photo - landyvision.com
Levon Helm accused lead guitarist Robbie Robertson of stealing the copyright for the songs Robertson registered in his own name.
He also said that working for Dylan was being like an employee and must musicians would agree with him.
The Band was meant to break to the mold on bands with leaders. Except Robertson and Garth Hudson, three band members sang lead and they all switched instruments. It was the 60s model of egalitarian life – The Band not Robbie Robertson’s band. Continue reading