Happy Birthday Levon Helm | Newport 2008 Video

Today would have Levon Helm’s 75th birthday had The Band drummer not lost his battle with cancer on April 19, 2012 at the age of 71. Born May 26, 1940 in Blaine, Arkansas, Helm was known for his talent behind the drum kit, his Arkansas-twang singing voice, well-received acting roles and hosting Midnight Ramble jam sessions at his barn in Woodstock, New York. Helm stayed active throughout his life recording and performing live well beyond the breakup of The Band while forming the Levon Helm Band.



The Levon Helm Band appeared in August 2008 at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island. The impressive roster of artists making up the band day included guitarists Jimmy Vivino and Larry Campbell, harmonica player Little Sammy Davis, drummer Shawn Payton, bassist Lincoln Schluyfur, keyboardist Brian Mitchell, Helm’s multi-instrumentalist daughter Amy Helm, vocalists Theresa Williams and Katherine Russel, and a horn section featuring Howard Johnson, Steven Bernstein, Clark Gayton and Eric Lawrence. The set features a mix of The Band classics with his solo work and traditional covers and concludes with The Band’s “The Weight”featuring Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and Jake Shimabukuro.



Setlist and Timings:
0:00:00 -The Same Thing (incomplete)
0:04:24 -Ophelia
0:08:51 -Fannie Mae
0:12:25 -Love Played A Game
0:17:19 -Long Black Veil
0:22:39 -Got Me A Woman
0:26:43 -Ashes Of Love
0:31:14 -Anna Lee
0:36:20 -Deep Elem Blues
0:42:49 -Rag Mama Rag
0:48:08 -The Shape I’m In
0:53:23 -Chest Fever
1:01:05 -The Weight