Levon Helm
Levon Helm
Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm was an American rock 'n' roller, Americana musician, and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and regular lead vocalist for The Band. Helm was known for his deeply soulful, country-accented voice, multi-instrumental ability, and creative drumming style, highlighted on many of the Band's recordings, such as "The Weight", "Up on Cripple Creek", and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDrummer
Date of Birth26 May 1940
CityElaine, AR
CountryUnited States of America
I don't think I'm a millionaire, but I'm comfortable.
I like walking on the edge.
I've had all the lessons I could get. I've learned from everybody I've ever met.
With horns and a full rhythm section, the drums always looked like the best seat in the house.
Conway Twitty was always our local hero while I was growing up. He had a series of good bands. I wanted to sit in, if Conway would let me. And he did a couple of times.
Forever Young, by Dylan, is one of my favorite songs.
Dad and mom would have preferred that I be a doctor, a lawyer, a scientist, or a great humanitarian.
When I was younger, I used to drive up to a bunch of turkeys, roll down the window and say something. They'd all gobble back at once.
A friend of mine took me to Memphis advised me that I should get in the musicians' union. He gave me a set of drums and said, Stay on the job, son.
Lord, when the song wants to pick up and go a little faster towards the end, it's hard for me to resist.
Anytime I switch to another instrument, I immediately turn it into another kind of drum so that I can understand it better.
I don't fool with a lot of things that I can't have fun with. There's not much reward in that.
We're all dealt with the same hand here, so to speak. I feel like I've had it a lot better than most people. I've had the opportunity to travel and play music all my life.
I don't hear record companies coming up with any good ideas or suggestions. Historically, if it ain't their idea, it ain't no good, so you got that to contend with.