LEVON HELM

BIOGRAPHY

Levon Helm was the legendary voice and multi-instrumentalist of The Band, playing drums as well as mandolin and, occasionally, guitar and bass. The Arkansas-born Helm – who inspired the title of Elton John’s hit “Levon” – was with The Band for its entire history and also led Levon Helm and the RCO All Stars during the late 70s. He was an inaugural member of Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band and was part of Roger Waters’ “The Wall Live in Berlin” concert in 1990. He published an autobiography, “This Wheel’s on Fire,” in 1993 and in recent years hosted Midnight Ramble concerts at his home and studio in Woodstock, N.Y. He received Grammy Awards for his recent albums “Dirt Farmer,” “Electric Dirt” and “Ramble at the Ryman,” and he amassed an acting resume that includes “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “The Right Stuff,” End of the Line” and “Fire Down Below”. † April 19, 2012