Levon Helm

A couple of weeks ago,(March 25^th to be specific) my wife and I went to see a concert with another couple. (I’ll get to that later) We were talking about other concerts to see when I mentioned that Levon Helm was coming to Longwood Gardens. I played them some of Levon’s most recent CD, “Electric Dirt”, and it was decided to go, and tickets were purchased.  I was psyched! I’m a big fan of The Band, and I really enjoyed Levon’s two recent albums, “Dirt Farmer” and “Electric Dirt”. I had seen the reformed Band (without Robbie Robertson)a couple of times  back in the 1980s, and had always talked about going to one of Levon’s Rambles at his barn in Woodstock New York, but never got around to it. I thought that here was a chance to see one of my favorite musicians again.

But things don’t always go as planned. On April 16^th, I was reading the Mandolincafe Forum, when I saw a heading that caught my attention, “Rumors about Levon Helm’s health circulating” and my heart dropped. I knew that he had battled throat cancer, but had been able to recover enough to sing again and to put out two really good albums, but nothing lasts, and it seems that Levon is fighting his last battle, one that can have only one conclusion…

Still life for Richard, Rick and Levon

So here’s to Levon,  probably the best singing drummer ever, also not a bad mandolinist, guitarist and harmonica player. Although I never met you, you and the other members of The Band have given me much enjoyment through the years.

 I’m sorry to see you go… Wish I could have seen you one more time...Thanks for all the music.




Levon Helm

The Band

Nice overview on Levon at Huffington Post

Levon Helm
May 26, 1940- April 19, 2012
R.I.P.

The Titanic

100 Years ago, the Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg, April 15, 1912. Up until the invention of radio and television, news didn't travel as fast as it does today. Songs used to be written as a way to disseminate information, and a number of songs were written to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic. My favorite song about the titanic is Blind Willie Johnson's "God Moves on the Water".



Blind Willie Johnson "God Moves on the Water"

Blind Willie Johnson recorded it in 1929, 17 years after the sinking, so this wasn't a "news story", since Blind Willie was a gospel singer,  it's meant more as a parable on man's hubris, in that man dared to name the ship after "the Gods", the Titans of Greek mthology. In flaunting their pride in the face of God, God had to put "man" in it's place.Whether you believe it or not, it's still a great song.