Levon Helm has Passed Away at 71

[Troubadour]

Levon's wife and daughter posted this message on his Facebook page a little earlier:

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

I am absolutely heartbroken. I have been crying my eyes out for the past hour... I know he has had an incredible life, but this is just so sad. What a wonderful singer, drummer and all-round musician he is. A true gentleman, too. I was just watching 'The Last Waltz' on DVD today.

On a selfish note, I am gutted that I will never get to see him play live... Attending one of his Midnight Rambles in Woodstock, NY has been on my wishlist for a long time. I naively always thought I'd make it. Thoughts, of course, are with Levon and his family right now.

[Freypower]

I had no idea about this. How sad.

[Glennsallnighter]

Very sad indeed. Thoughts and prayers with him and his family.You mind yourself too Lou

[VAisForEagleLovers]

I wondered what was going on, JD Souther put a tribute of sorts on his Facebook page.
"Brother Levon Helm, I can honestly say that playing The Midnight Ramble with you and your family at the farm was probably the most thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying experience of my career. You have meant more to me and, I think, to most musicians that we could possibly say in a few words. Thank you for being a great musician, songwriter,creating the template for singing drummers, and for instantly taking me into your family of friends without hesitation the moment I walked into your kitchen and starting talking to Muddy. You offered me a drink, I said;"whacha got', you said; "how 'bout a grape soda" and I felt home.....still do. Will miss you terribly but your light is bright and will not be dimmed. JD Souther "

[Troubadour]

That is a lovely tribute.

[Topkat]

Rolling Stone did an article on him & some of his best songs
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...-city-20120417

[sodascouts]

How sad! I'll be praying for him and his family.

[Prettymaid]

Oh no! I didn't know about this either. Thanks for sharing the news Troub, sad as it is. His music will live on forever.

[TimothyBFan]

I knew he was bad but didn't realize he'd gotten this bad till I got your text yesterday, Lou. I'm thinking of him.

He is such a nice guy which I realized right away the day I picked up the phone at my friend's house and he announced himself. I was so nervous, but he put me at ease right off by cracking a joke. She said she remembered how nice he was to her as a child when they were in the movie the Dollmaker together and he had stayed in touch with her all this time. She is, to say the least, saddened by this, I'm sure.

Hope his family, friends and fans find comfort in the fact that he has touched so many lives so positively.

And Lou, of course I'm thinking of you also because I know how much he and his music have meant to you over the years.

[Windeagle]

Wow, that explains it. He had a show scheduled at the Hampton Beach Casino on March 30, but it was cancelled that morning with no explanation.

I was fortunate enough to see him play with Joe Walsh in Red Bank, NJ last fall. He only played on one song (RMW), but the love in that room was so thick you could feel it. Joe's regular drummer stayed in to dual-drum and you could see on his face that this was a dream come true for him. Levon looked a bit frail when he walked to and from the stage, but you'd never have known it when he sat down behind those drums.

My husband didn't know who he was (he's not a music fan), but I told him, "Just enjoy. He's a legend." My thoughts go out to his family.