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Levon Helm's new band (L-R: Amy Helm, Levon Helm, Larry Campbell and Theresa Williams).
February 18, 2008Levon Helm started his musical career by picking up the guitar at age eight and switching to drums soon after. He is best known as the famous drummer for the rock group The Band.
The Band's 1968 debut, Music from Big Pink, mixed country, rock, folk, classical and Americana, and proved to be a popular album. They would continue until 1976's farewell performance, The Last Waltz. The Band was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame for their influence on the rock music of the '60s.
Helm started a solo career apart from The Band, releasing several albums and, in 1993, Helm published his autobiography. In the late '90s he turned to blues with his newly founded Levon Helm & the Barn Burners. He recently released his first solo album in 25 years, Dirt Farmer.
This segment originally aired Jan. 18, 2007.
Based in Philadelphia, WXPN takes listeners on a journey of music discovery through new and heritage rock, blues, roots, and folk artists. WXPN also produces NPR's World Cafe.
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