Levon Helm
Levon Helm
Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm was an American rock 'n' roller, Americana musician, and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and regular lead vocalist for The Band. Helm was known for his deeply soulful, country-accented voice, multi-instrumental ability, and creative drumming style, highlighted on many of the Band's recordings, such as "The Weight", "Up on Cripple Creek", and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDrummer
Date of Birth26 May 1940
CityElaine, AR
CountryUnited States of America
Songs don't wear out. Good songs are good now. If they were a comfort during those hard times in the past, they'll be a comfort in today's age.
If it doesn't come from your heart, music just doesn't work.
You got to pick one - pay your medical bills or pay the mortgage. Most people can't do both, and I'm no different.
Well, somebody's got to sing. They won't hire you unless you sing.
There were no rules, other than that the song should sound good and be fun to play.
I've always thought it was easier for girls to sing harmonies because their voices can go to that higher plane so much more easy than a male voice.
The way to do it is to put as much life into the song as I can. You can either get it to breathe or you can't.
I had throat cancer, and I had to have radiation treatments, and I couldn't sing for a long time; and this was in '97. I had 28 radiation treatments. I didn't die, thank God.
It's different playing in a studio than it is playing live, of course.
I never subscribe to the stay-at-home policy. I'm not sick of the road or sick of eating in good restaurants around the country. I like to travel.
The rock star stuff never came up for us. The Band was never attacked by groupies before, during or after any show that we ever played.