Levon Helm... RIP

Levon Helm died today.

He was the drummer and often the singer for The Band.

I heard the news on the radio a few hours ago.

Do you guys listen to the Band? Are you familiar with Levon? If not then you better get listening. I'm not sure how old i was when i first discovered The Band, and Levon, high school i think. I'm pretty sure i loved them immediately but it took years before i truly appreciated them. I began to realize that every time they popped up on the radio (not often enough) or when the i pod was on shuffle, i just loved it. Mainly it was because of Levon. Here was a guy who cut thru all the bull shit and made you sit up an say.... 'this is good'. Plus he was just a country boy from Arkansas. Too cool.

I love music and people like Levon Helm are the reason why. He's awesome. You cant explain it, you can just feel it.

The very first link i every put on this blog was to a picture of Levon Helm. I'm sad he's gone.

So do yourself a favor and start listening to the Band, especially the songs where Levon sings... which are most of them. Tip: start with 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down'.

Here's a great article by the New York times... i didnt' even know his real first name was Mark.

"Now i dont mind chopping wood, and i dont care if the moneys no good. You take what you need and you leave the rest, but they should have never taken the very best."