Levon Helm

Drummer and vocalist who backed Bob Dylan before departing due to fan backlash against electric rock.

Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm (May 26, 1940 – April 19, 2012) was an American musician and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and one of the three lead vocalists for The Band. He began his musical journey in Arkansas, influenced by Delta blues and country music, before joining Ronnie Hawkins' group, the Hawks. When Bob Dylan sought a backing band to perform electric rock music in the mid-1960s, Helm joined the Hawks as their drummer. However, disheartened by fans' negative response to Dylan's new sound, Helm left the group in the autumn of 1965 for what turned out to be a two-year layoff.

Quick Facts

Birth name

Mark Lavon Helm

Born

26 May 1940

Birthplace

Elaine, Arkansas, U.S.

Died

19 April 2012

Place of death

New York City, U.S.

Resting place

Woodstock Cemetery

Occupation

Musician
songwriter
singer
record producer

Years active

1957–2012

Lore & Background

By the mid-1960s, Bob Dylan asked the Hawks to be his backing band as he moved toward performing electric rock music. The transition proved difficult for Helm; disheartened by fans' negative response to Dylan's new sound, he left the group in the autumn of 1965. During this two-year layoff, he was replaced by a range of touring drummers, most notably Mickey Jones, while Richard Manuel began to double on the instrument. Helm spent time with his family in Arkansas but also undertook sojourns to Los Angeles, where he experimented with LSD and performed with Bobby Keys, and to Memphis and New Orleans, where he worked on a nearby oil platform. In the autumn of 1967, after what would later be called "the Summer of Love," he returned to the group.

Reader's Guide

Helm rejoin the group after his layoff found them performing almost daily with Dylan near Woodstock following the singer's July 1966 motorcycle accident. While the band recorded many tapes in West Saugerties that became The Basement Tapes, Helm remained an integral part of this creative period alongside Danko and Manuel. He was primarily a drummer and vocalist but also played mandolin, guitar, or bass guitar on occasion when other members switched instruments. His voice, known for its deeply soulful, country-accented quality, became central to the group's sound as they transitioned from backing Dylan to forming The Band. Helm was the only American member of this lineup, which included Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson.

Did You Know?

After returning in late 1967, the group played almost daily with Dylan in West Saugerties, NY, recording what became The Basement Tapes.
Helm was the only American member of the lineup that became The Band; all other members were Canadian.
In his autobiography, Helm reports that bandmates started calling him "Levon" because they had difficulty pronouncing "Lavon."

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Levon Helm start touring with Dylan?

He first joined the electric shows in August 1965 but returned to the lineup for a show in Chicago on October 28 of that same year. Their collaboration lasted until the summer of 1966 when Dylan was involved in a motorcycle crash.

Did Levon Helm participate in the Basement Tapes recordings?

Although they settled near Woodstock after the tour, Helm stepped away from most of these private recording sessions for personal reasons. As a result, he missed out on participating in the majority of the tracks recorded at Big Pink.

What happened to Levon Helm after the 1966 tour ended?

Following Dylan's accident, Helm moved near Woodstock, New York, where he focused on forming The Band and developing their own musical identity. He remained a celebrated musician until he passed away on April 19, 2012.