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Levon Helm Dead: Drummer for The Band Dies at 71 After Long Battle With Cancer

Levon Helm, The BandAP Photo, Richard Drew

Levon Helm, the enigmatic drummer and baritone vocalist behind The Band has died at the age of 71 after a lengthy battle with cancer, the Times-Herald Record reports. Helm had been hospitalized at New York's Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center.

"We lost Levon at 1:30 today surrounded by friends and family and his musicians have visited him," Larry Campbell, Helm's guitarist and band leader, told the news paper. "As sad as this was, it was very peaceful."

After last weekend's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, speculation about Helm's health grew after former Band guitarist Robbie Robertson wished "love and prayers" to the drummer. The two had a falling out in the late '70s after the group broke up.

On Tuesday evening, Helm's family posted a heartfelt message online asking for fans to send their support to the dying drummer. Since then, thousands of people have posted tributes and kind words about Helm.

"Thank you, all, for the outpouring of kindness and love. I know Levon is feeling it and that love will help guide him through this final journey. Thank you for your respect for his, Sandy's and Amy's privacy. YOU are truly people with class and Levon would think the world of you," Helm's manager Barbara O'Brien told fans on Facebook.

Born and raised in Arkansas, Helm had a distinctly Southern voice that graced some The Band's greatest hits, including "The Weight," "Up on Cripple Creek" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." In the '50s, he joined Ronnie Hawkins' band, which would later include Robertson, bassist Rick Danko and keyboardists Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel. Known as the Hawks, the sidemen would eventually get hired to back up Bob Dylan. Though Helm briefly quit the group, he returned and the musicians, sans Dylan, broke out on their own as The Band.

After a slew of critically acclaimed albums, including their 1968 debut Music From the Big Pink and their 1969 self-titled LP, The Band decided to retire from the road and held a star-studded farewell concert that was released as an album and Martin Scorsese-directed film called "The Last Waltz." The Band recorded Islands, their final album with the original lineup, following the concert.

Helm released four solo albums, beginning with 1977's Levon Helm & the RCO All-Stars, before the Band reunited without Robertson. Helm was later extremely critical of Robertson in his 1993 autobiography This Wheel's on Fire -- Levon Helm and the Story of The Band, accusing the guitarist of cheating the rest of the group out of songwriting credits and purposely getting too much of the spotlight in "The Last Waltz."

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The Band continued on despite Richard Manuel's suicide in 1986, releasing three more albums before breaking up for good after Rick Danko's death in 1999. They were also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, with Helm being the only member not to attend the service. In recent years, Helm was a prolific solo artist, beginning with 2007's Grammy-winning albums Dirt Farmer and Electric Dirt.

Helm also battled health problems for years. He had been a heavy smoker for many years and in 1998 began treatment for throat cancer. The disease reduced his voice to barely a whisper and took many years to become stronger.

"I think there's that secret little spot back there in your mind where you know something's wrong, but you don't want to admit it," Helm told the Albany Times Union in 2000 [via Huffington Post]. "You put it off, you know. But my family and friends made me go to the doctor, and that's when you start dealing with it."

After quitting smoking and 25 rounds of chemotherapy, Helm's health improved dramatically. But the disease flared up once again and claimed the singer's life on Thursday, April 19. Just days prior to his passing, Robertson revealed that he had visited Helm in the hospital.

"I sat with Levon for a good while, and thought of the incredible and beautiful times we had together," he said. "Levon is one of the most extraordinary talented people I've ever known and very much like an older brother to me. I am so grateful I got to see him one last time and will miss him and love him forever."

Helm is survived by his wife, Sandy, and daughter, Amy. Rest in peace, Levon.

Singer Levon Helm on His Cancer

Watch The Band Perform "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"

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April 22 2012 at 11:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
gardenerrod

I may have not gotten to see Levon play for all those years at Woodstock but did get to see him and the Band with Dylan Jan, 4, 1974 in Chicago. He will always be my favorite Band member! That VOICE is The Band. Move over Buddy Miles and John Bonham another brother is about to join the Band. Bless you and your family.

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April 22 2012 at 8:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sam

It really is such a shame, because this man struggled for a really long time. I read about it here first (http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2012/04/levon-helm-dies-after-longstanding-fight-cancer), but still... RIP Levon!!! I'm glad you went peacefully!

April 22 2012 at 4:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iwasthere

Robbie wrote the music, Levon sang and played his heart out. As did Rick and Richard. They were in perfect harmony so to speak. It's so sad that when the guys lost it all, they turned to Robertson to blame for their self-inflicted wounds. RIP, Levon. I am sorry you had to turn something amazing into a revisionist telling seen through an intoxicated mind. You were truly a talent.

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April 20 2012 at 5:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
reste0123

Seen The Band play at the old Fillmore East in NYC. They just blew me away. Fantastic group, each one so tallented. Their movie "The Last Waltz" i have recorded and watch it from time to time.

April 20 2012 at 4:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
verdipants

His music will live on because his songs meant something special to each and every
one of who loved him.

April 20 2012 at 4:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
gregl1958

Rest in peace, Levon. Thanks for all the great music you left us. You will be missed.

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