R.I.P. Levon Helm

It's said that death comes in threes and after the deaths of Andrew Love and Dick Clark, The Band's Levon Helm becomes the third of this week. Helm passed away yesterday at the age of 71 after a battle with throat cancer.

Helm was the drummer and vocalist for The Band, who first gained prominence working with Bob Dylan in the mid-1960s before breaking out on their own and releasing many of their own iconic Americana songs. In the mid-1970s, he started a solo career, but recorded with The Band up until the late 1990s. Towards the end of his career, he released a series of Grammy-nominated and winning albums. His early work with The Band is situated among my favorite music from the era.

Goodbye, Levon!

Bob Dylan and The Band - "Yazoo Street Scandal"

The Band - "The Weight"

Levon Helm - "Golden Bird"