Song for Friday...so long Levon

Yesterday we lost another great in the world of music.

Levon Helm died of cancer at 71.

He was one of the co founders of The Band.

I grew up listening to these guys (they were one of my dads favorite bands),

  kept listening to them as an adult and

passed on my love for their music to my daughter who listens to them still.

Classics like "The Weight", "I Shall Be Released", "the Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"

were standards throughout my life at parties, on mixed tapes, on the road and many

late nights listening to records.

One of my all time favorite movies is "The Last Waltz" released in 1978 by Martin Scorsese,

a film about The Bands last concert with a lineup that you wouldn't believe.

Everyone came out for this 7 hour concert including Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell,

Neil Young, Van Morrison, Emmylou Harris, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan and many others.

 If you've never seen this film...WATCH IT.

It is one of the best music documentaries you'll ever see.

I never tired of watching Levon play and sing and must admit, I had

a crush on him after seeing the film in the theatre!

Levon was also an accomplished actor and starred in many films including

"Coal Miners Daughter", "A Dolls House" and "The Right Stuff".

He had one of those great, gravelly, Southern drawls.

This message was posted on the net by his wife and daughter 2 days ago...

Thank you fans and music lovers who have made his life so filled with joy and celebration… he has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance! He did it every time he took the stage…

We appreciate all the love and support and concern.

From his daughter Amy, and wife Sandy”

So I say a quiet goodbye to Levon...thanks for all the soulful, beautiful music.
 I leave you with a classic from the film.

here...

Have a lovely weekend and play a little of The Band.