As writers and photographers, we’re easing our pain over the loss of Levon Helm by putting our thoughts and memories about The Band drummer and Midnight Ramble host down “on paper.” Thursday night HT founder Slade Sohmer eulogized Helm and yesterday two pairs of three contributors shared their memories for our Love For Levon series, which continues now.
“Honey you know, I’d die for you.” When I first heard Levon Helm sing that line from Ophelia I was hooked. It was the authenticity of his voice and the sincerity of his delivery that instantly drew me in. Levon may have been singing the verse to a crazed woman named Ophelia, but he made you feel like he was addressing you personally and that he truly would die for me to get to hear him play.
[Photo by Fred Harrington]
It was the Arkansas twang in his voice and the deep pocket his drum beats lived in that welcomed listeners into the world of The Band, with Mr. Helm comfortably sitting at the helm. He was a ‘sanger’ and a backwoods drummer. The lone American in a group of Canucks, it was Helm’s genuineness and unbridled musicianship that made The Band the definitive American band. Helm was, for me, The Band. Sure I love Robbie Robertson’s songwriting and guitar playing and Rick Danko’s vocals on songs like It Makes No Difference, Richard Manuel’s delicate falsetto and Garth Hudson’s organ work, but Helm was the heart of The Band and it seemed of American music.
As time went on, Levon went from being your brother, to your dad, to your kick ass grandpa. His Midnight Rambles at his barn in Woodstock, New York proved at least to me that for him it was always sharply about the music. I never was lucky enough to attend one, but I’d pay to see him play music every night of the week. The one time I did see him live, when The Band opened for the Grateful Dead in 1995, I was admittedly too young and hadn’t yet truly discovered their greatness. Since then, Helm’s music has had a profound influence on me, with his honest approach and heartfelt delivery becoming the mark by which I compare all others. Simply put he was a legend, his musicianship unparalleled and his passing leaves me incredibly sad. Rest in peace, Levon, ramble on.
PAGE TWO = Chad Berndtson PAGE THREE = Parker Harrington