Levon Helm is near death

[GlobalObserver]

Levon Helm Studios ~ Home of The Midnight Ramble

Levon Helm, singer and drummer for The Band, in final stages of cancer - latimes.com

I love The Band.

Levon is one of my favorite singers and drummers of all time.

One of my favorite performances with The Staples.

http://youtu.be/Z1Ah7tVDlSk

[Bizarro Amy]

That's a shame. I like the solo stuff he put out in recent years too.

[Nostalgiabuff]

sad news. I think he lives not far from me in the Woodstock area. may his passing be without further suffering

[GlobalObserver]

Levon Helm, singer and drummer for the Band, died today in New York. He was 71.

"He passed away peacefully at 1:30 this afternoon surrounded by his friends and bandmates," Helm's longtime guitarist Larry Campbell tells Rolling Stone.

"All his friends were there, and it seemed like Levon was waiting for them. Ten minutes after they left we sat there and he just faded away. He did it with dignity. It was even two days ago they thought it would happen within hours, but he held on. It seems like he was Levon up to the end, doing it the way he wanted to do it. He loved us, we loved him."

A note on Helms' Facebook page says simply: "Levon Helm passed peacefully this afternoon. He was surrounded by family, friends and band mates and will be remembered by all he touched as a brilliant musician and a beautiful soul."

RIP.

[Wee67]

'The Weight' will always be one of the best songs in rock. It always brings back a mood or feeling of a certain time from my childhhod. Maybe riding in the back of my mom's car, hand catching the summer wind as drive along. Yeah, that what it feels like.

[Nostalgiabuff]

sad news in the rock world. i had the pleasure of seeing him live in the late 80's. thw rold has lost another amazing voice

[Type Two]

So sorry to hear of his passing. Truly a R&R legend.

[TEXASFETT]

Man may he rest in peace!

[EmergencyIan]

Rest in peace, Levon. You are a treasure.

- Ian