Levon Helm, The True Voice Of America

Levon Helm, the well known inimitable singer, song writer as well as drummer passed away yesterday at the age of 71. He was in the wake of a long battle with Throat Cancer. He earned a lot of fame by working in a legendary rootsy rock group or said to be a Band that featured three extraordinary singers. But Levon’ voice had its own quality as he was the stern Southern Preacher.

Charles Pierce called him, “The True Voice of America” in a beautiful remembrance. On talking about the legendary personality of Levon Helm, he said, “I want to thank him for the way he sang, and for the throb of his drums, and for the way he helped point the way home for all of us who thought we’d lost our country. He brought us back to what was really important: the fugitive grace of a young democracy, that America, for all its flaws and shortcomings, for all its loss of faith in itself and its stubborn self-delusions, was a country that was meant to rock. For that, I return his salute from long ago. Thank you, neighbor. And godspeed.”

Charles Pierce also praised Helm’s amazing generosity of spirit. He was a rock instrumentalist, who is known for his deeply soulful, country-accented voice, and creative drumming style highlighted on many of the Band’s recordings, such as “The Weight“, “Up on Cripple Creek“, “Ophelia” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down“.