Levon Helm

Levon Helm was the drummer and vocalist for The Band, the roots rock group that started as Bob Dylan's backing musicians. He grew up in Turkey, Arkansas, where he picked up Southern blues and folk traditions early on. By his early teens he was already playing drums and singing in local bands.

In 1961 he joined Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks, which eventually became The Band. Their self-titled debut in 1968 and albums like "Music from Big Pink" and "The Band" mixed roots rock, folk, blues, and country. Helm's drumming and vocals were central to songs like "The Weight" and "Up on Cripple Creek."

After The Band dissolved in 1976, Helm worked on solo material. He recorded albums like "Levon Helm & the RCO All-Stars" with Emmylou Harris and John Hiatt. Later he battled throat cancer but returned to music, making records like "Dirt Farmer" and "Electric Dirt" at his Woodstock studio. He also hosted the television series "Midnight Ramble."