The Band’s Levon Helm Dead At 71

Levon Helm, former member of The Band, is dead at age 71 after a long battle with cancer. He passed away April 19 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Helm’s guitarist and band leader, Larry Campbell, confirmed Helm’s death with the Times Herald-Record:

“We lost Levon at 1:30 today surrounded by friends and family and his musicians have visited him … As sad as this was, it was very peaceful.”

Helm was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998. A message posted on his website by his family on April 17 announced he was “in the final stage of his battle with cancer.”

Helm achieved fame as singer and drummer for the roots rock group, The Band, and he can be heard on their classic tracks, including “The Weight” and “Up on Cripple Creek.” He also played Loretta Lynn’s father in “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” among other roles.

Helm’s former bandmate, Robbie Robertson, released a statement Wednesday.

“…Levon is one of the most extraordinary talented people I’ve ever known and very much like an older brother to me. I am so grateful I got to see him one last time and will miss him and love him forever…”