I remember the first time I got see Levon on December 16th, 2006 as a birthday present at his house in Woodstock thanks to my brother. Levon came out with the band and as I stood there by the beam, Levon pointed at me at me while I ate popcorn ( I still have the bag), winked and smiled and till this day I have never felt cooler than that moment in time.
Working all day yesterday and then getting home and finally being able to post this photo made me feel so sad, but I love this image of how happy he looked in doing something that brought him so much joy – playing for his fans. If history is said to repeat itself, then our parents’ generation remembers the day the music died…well our generation has now come to now know what that feeling is like.
Friends have told me they really never listened to The Band until the past few days. They don’t realize what they have missed out on and I can’t be more happier and sad knowing I was able to see Levon a handful of times from nights he welcomed me into his house/studio for Midnight Ramble and performances at the Beacon Theatre or this past summer seeing him for the last time at the Gathering of the Vibes. It breaks my heart knowing now I will never see this man ever walk out on stage again with a smile that stretched cheek to cheek and the charisma of what a man should be.
Some say that you don’t know what you have until it’s gone…well the music world has lost its rhythm and its beat. Levon has touched so many with his story and his songs that his life will never be forgotten and for me, Levon will be greatly missed. THANK YOU for the memories I will never forget!
