May 26, 2012 ~ Midnight Ramble Levon would have celebrated his 72nd birthday. It’s time for the healing to begin and we know Levon would want that to happen through music at the barn.
Members of The Levon Helm Band and featuring The Dirt Farmer Band - Larry Campbell, Amy Helm, Teresa Williams, Byron Isaacs and Justin Guip
With guests, Randy Ciarlante, Tony Leone, Happy Traum and John Sebastian
Toast To Freedom” is dedicated to human rights activism around the world. Nearly 50 artists contributed to celebrate Amnesty International’s 50th Anniversary. Toast To Freedom was written by music veterans Carl Carlton and Larry Campbell
WATCH THIS VIDEO-
This was recorded at Levon Helm’s Studio in Woodstock, and HE IS IN IT! As a bonus, you can see some footage of the inside of the studio, where the Rambles were held. Ewan McGregor is there too, so my little fangirl heart is just as happy as can be. The whole list of artists is just incredible…to think, all of those people were together in Woodstock!
I have been a member of Amnesty since I was 13. I read a story about some boys in Turkey, who were my age, who were being tortured by the government, accused of being spies. Basic human rights should be just that, a right! No one should have to fight for access to food, water, healthcare, safety or dignity.
Levon was the glue, not just in The Band, but in all of what people think of when they think of North American music. He was a great unifier; a great glue. He unified blues and country, rural and city, and even North and South. Luckily he showed us all the way to keep it together and let it swing.
My last post about Levon Helm for now. Now I finally have the credits for the bottom two photos, which I used it my review of the Midnight Ramble with Mumford and Sons.
I am going to go watch The Last Waltz and work my way through a box of Kleenex.
Much love to y’all. Whatever it is that makes you happy, go do it, often, and with as much joy as possible. You just never know when your time will come. If anyone criticizes you, fuck ‘em. xoxo -Kel
But I feel content. I know if the crazy fantasy of an afterlife is real, those three guys are singing together again, or as standup comedian John Mulaney said “I hope Levon Helm is with Rick Danko and Richard Manuel and they’re stealing baloney”
When my mom came home. She hugged me. And said to…
He was your Elvis. That is beautiful. I called my mom a couple of days ago when I first heard that he was in the final stages of cancer. I started to cry over the phone and she said, “I understand, he is your Ricky Nelson.” xo