I met Levon Helm last night!!!

[CosmicDancer]

Okay, I'll go ahead and warn you, this will be a long story, but it's well worth the read.

Levon Helm played in my hometown (Knoxville, TN) last night and I was blessed enough to get a free ticket and get backstage to meet him and his band. Levon, and everyone else in the band for that matter, were increadibly nice people and class acts! First of all, they put on a killer show with Levon playing drums most of the night and let me tell you, the man still has that killer groove behind the skins that you hear on the old Band classics. His voice has weathered a bit, but he is 60+ years old and has survived throat cancer for crying out loud! I was actually surprised by how good he still sounded.

Now then, to the reason that I got to meet him and the reason I now have even more respect for the man as a human being than I did before:

The drummer and singer in my band both teach middle school. One of the English teachers at the school does a project with her kids where they write letters to celebrities that they like/respect with the intentions of teaching the kids how to properly write a business style letter. Most of the celebs will send a photo or something back, which is cool. Well, the teacher, Kay Norris, also writes one as an example for the students. She wrote her's to Levon. He calls the school last week asking for her, tells her how much he respects teachers and that they are overworked and underpaid, gives her his phone number(!), and gives her 24 free tickets to the show and backstage passes!!! We get to the show and in the middle of it all, he dedicates the entire show to Kay Norris and the Clinton Middle School staff! Aferwards, we get backstage and meet the band and Levon comes out, takes the time to talk to everyone one of us and is increadibly gracious. I just shook his hand and told him how much I greatly appreciated his contribution to the world of music and just how much his music really means to me. Since there were so many people, I didn't bother with the autograph/picture routine as I'm sure he was tired and had already done more than enough for us. I had already felt blessed enough just to meet the man. Anyways, He then talks more with Kay and tells him to call her to set up a conference style call for her classroom so he can speak to all of her students!! I was in awe!!

In an age where so many celebrities are total jerks and seem to have no gratitude for their fans, it was refreshing to meet a man who is a legend in the music industry and have him be so kind, thankful and just seem to be such a genuinely good person. I came away from the meeting with a tremendous amount of respect for Mr. Helm.

[donald]

He was interviewed by Terry Gross of NPR.  If you go to the NPR site, click on Fresh Air, and look in the shows archives, you can probably to listen to the interview.  He talks about his recent activities and about the past few years.

[the captain]

That is a great, great story.

And you know, it confirms an impression I've always gotten from interviews with OTHER people. It seems that every time I see an interview with some producer, or ex-The Band member, etc., they always talk glowingly about Levon. In fact, it's almost like a joke among my friends that if one of us is complimenting pretty much anyone, someone will chime in "I love Levon." But it's funny that there is apparently no exaggeration in the way I've understood him.

By the way, I have his latest album, Dirt Farmer. It's really good music from a guy who's really comfortable with his sound. I love that from old pros--do what you do, not what you think "they" are doing, or want you to do, or what you used to do. Just do what you want to do and it works out for the best.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Thanks for sharing that story.

I've only recently become interested in The Band having seen The Last Waltz on TV over the last year. I was aware that Levon had some health concerns and was curious how he was doing. Thanks for the update.

[Alex]

Wow, wish more celebrities were that personable. Helm seems like the polar opposite to a certain frontman who doesn't like his formula to be f***ed with.

[CosmicDancer]

That is a great, great story.

And you know, it confirms an impression I've always gotten from interviews with OTHER people. It seems that every time I see an interview with some producer, or ex-The Band member, etc., they always talk glowingly about Levon. In fact, it's almost like a joke among my friends that if one of us is complimenting pretty much anyone, someone will chime in "I love Levon." But it's funny that there is apparently no exaggeration in the way I've understood him.

By the way, I have his latest album, Dirt Farmer. It's really good music from a guy who's really comfortable with his sound. I love that from old pros--do what you do, not what you think "they" are doing, or want you to do, or what you used to do. Just do what you want to do and it works out for the best.

Yeah, his new album is fantastic and you are exactly right, he is just doing what he loves to do without trying to sound hip and current and it shows.  I have seen a lot of different acts live over the years and I must say that I have NEVER seen anyone look like they were having as much fun on stage as Levon was.  He sat behind his drums with a huge smile on his face all night and was laughing and joking with the band and the audience constantly.  It was very obvious in watching him and talking to him that he just loves his job and feels blessed to get to entertain people.  He's a very classy dude.

[8o8o]

A great story! And the last one left of the three sublime singers in The Band, a wonderful artist.

By the way, isn't his daughter on his new record too?

I've heard and read some good things about "Dirt Farmer", think I'm going to pick it up.

[CosmicDancer]

A great story! And the last one left of the three sublime singers in The Band, a wonderful artist.

By the way, isn't his daughter on his new record too?

I've heard and read some good things about "Dirt Farmer", think I'm going to pick it up.

His daughter Amy is on the record and tours with him as well.  She wasn't at the show I attended though becuase she just had a baby.