THE BAND's LEVON HELM Passes
April 19, 2012, 12 years ago
According to The Canadian Press, Levon Helm, singer and drummer for THE BAND, died on Thursday of throat cancer, according to a note on his official website which read:
"Levon Helm passed peacefully this afternoon. He was surrounded by family, friends and band mates and will be remembered by all he touched as a brilliant musician and a beautiful soul."
Earlier, his family had revealed the 71-year-old musician was in the final stages of a long battle with cancer.
Helm was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998 and the illness reduced his voice to a whisper. But he still continued to sing on albums and at rollicking concerts at his Woodstock home.
Helm was a key member of The Band and lent his distinctive Southern voice to classics like 'The Weight'' and 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down'.
The Band broke up in 1976, officially ending their touring career with an elaborate live ballroom performance featuring numerous musical celebrities. This performance was immortalized in Martin Scorsese's 1978 documentary The Last Waltz.
