Levon

From Down in the Delta to the Birth of The Band and Beyond

By: Sandra B. Tooze

Narrated by: Rosemary Benson

A dazzling, epic biography of Levon Helm - the beloved, legendary drummer and singer of The Band.

He sang the anthems of a generation: "The Weight", "Up on Cripple Creek", and "Life Is a Carnival", Levon Helm's story - told here through sweeping research and interviews with close friends and fellow musicians - is the rollicking story of American popular music itself.

In the Arkansas Delta, a young Levon witnessed "blues, country, and gospel hit in a head-on collision", as he put it. The result was rock 'n' roll. As a teenager, he joined the raucous Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks, then helped merge a hard-driving electric sound with Bob Dylan's folk roots, and revolutionized American rock with The Band. Helm not only provided perfect "in the pocket" rhythm and unforgettable vocals, he was The Band's soul.

Levon traces a rebellious life on the road, from being booed with Bob Dylan to the creative cauldron of Big Pink, the Woodstock Festival, world tours, The Last Waltz, and beyond with the man Dylan called "one of the last true great spirits of my or any other generation".

©2020 Sandra B. Tooze (P)2021 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Levon is a hit ... again

Nice story, much centered around my home state/county/town ... narrator is okay BUT I sure wish you would re-record and correct the pronunciation of many of the names ... I have had to shake my head and say names out loud to recognize what was meant! 🤣 For example, Elaine is not pronounced like the girls name but as (Long) E - lane.

If you’re a Levon Helm fan, be sure to check out the Delta Roots Festival held in Helena, AR, in the Spring (next one will probably be the n May 2023) ... this festival was held this past weekend in tribute to Levon. Sister festival, King Biscuit Blues Festival, is slated for October 5-8, 2022.

Marvell, AR, has a great memorial to Levon, showcasing his home.

Loved this story about an American Icon

So many amazing stories embedded in here about one of the greatest musicians to ever live. A must read for any true lover or music.

Just what I needed

Super uplifting and inspiring. And revealing about the behind the scenes. Levon can set an example for the rest of us. He wasn’t perfect. But he was a beautiful soul. Read this book and learn about him and his music and his beautiful ways!

Great Levon Story

I really enjoyed this. The only negative, and it’s a minor one once I got used to it, was the narrator trying to imitate the voices of several of the people

Great!

I have always been a fan...now I feel like I knew the man! A must read.