Levon Helm passes on

Photo of Levon Helm in 1993 by Dion Ogust.

Levon Helm passed away at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19 at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. He was surrounded by family, friends and bandmates.

The 71-year-old drummer whose Midnight Ramble concerts at his studio/home in Woodstock over the last eight years added luster to his career, not to mention the town itself, was battling a new round of cancer after having survived throat cancer a dozen years ago.

Once the drummer for The Band, in recent years his Levon Helm Band maintained a robust touring schedule, as well as hosting Rambles several times a month, and was awarded three Grammy Awards for its recordings.

We will be featuring an extensive tribute to Levon in the next edition of Woodstock Times.