Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm was an American musician who achieved fame as the drummer and one of the three lead vocalists for The Band, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. 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".
Helm playing the mandolin in 1971
Helm, center, performing with the Band. Hamburg, 1971
Helm with the Band at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 1976 (photo: David Gans)
Helm performing in 2004
The Band was a Canadian-American rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario, in 1967. It consisted of Canadians Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson, and American Levon Helm. The Band combined elements of Americana, folk, rock, jazz, country, influencing musicians such as George Harrison, Elton John, the Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton and Wilco.
"Big Pink" in 2006
L to R: Danko, Helm and Manuel on tour in Hamburg, Germany, in 1971
Hudson in 1971
Bob Dylan and the Band in Chicago, 1974: (left to right) Danko, Robertson, Dylan and Helm