The Band (so named because they were always "the band" to various front men), which in their heyday consisted of Canadians Rick Danko (bass guitar, double bass, fiddle, trombone, vocals), Garth Hudson (keyboard instruments, saxophones, trumpet), Richard Manuel (piano, drums, baritone saxophone, vocals), Robbie Robertson (guitar, vocals), and American Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, vocals).
The Band first came together as they joined rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins' backing group, The Hawks, and then as Levon and the Hawks, and then Bob Dylan recruited the group for his U.S. tour in 1965 and a world tour in 1966 and then as a backing group for recordings. The Band emerged on their own after the landmark “Music from Big Pink” album in 1968. A rustic and roots sound that influenced multiple generations of musicians right into the present day. Their songs were contained in a timeless space that spoke of North American history and mythical archetypal themes in a musical context of a blending of folk, country, blues, jazz, rock, and even Cajun music.
By the turn of 21st century the Band consisted of three living survivors --Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, and Robbie Robertson. (albeit one [Levon] suffering from throat cancer and left unable to sing). Garth remained an able backing musician by this time, but slipped from the limelight after the 1990s sans Robertson version of the Band wound down (after releasing three respectable but no-longer groundbreaking albums). Robbie, always the chief songwriter in the Band (and chief ego) made a brief splash with a solo 80s glossy U2-Gabriel-Lanois sound, but his true originality seemed to require the interaction of the other Bands members.
The Band first came together as they joined rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins' backing group, The Hawks, and then as Levon and the Hawks, and then Bob Dylan recruited the group for his U.S. tour in 1965 and a world tour in 1966 and then as a backing group for recordings. The Band emerged on their own after the landmark “Music from Big Pink” album in 1968. A rustic and roots sound that influenced multiple generations of musicians right into the present day. Their songs were contained in a timeless space that spoke of North American history and mythical archetypal themes in a musical context of a blending of folk, country, blues, jazz, rock, and even Cajun music.
By the turn of 21st century the Band consisted of three living survivors --Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, and Robbie Robertson. (albeit one [Levon] suffering from throat cancer and left unable to sing). Garth remained an able backing musician by this time, but slipped from the limelight after the 1990s sans Robertson version of the Band wound down (after releasing three respectable but no-longer groundbreaking albums). Robbie, always the chief songwriter in the Band (and chief ego) made a brief splash with a solo 80s glossy U2-Gabriel-Lanois sound, but his true originality seemed to require the interaction of the other Bands members.
By the early 2000s Levon had recovered enough to begin drumming again at his “Midnight Ramble”, at his home and studio, "the Barn" in Woodstock, New York. These concerts, featuring Helm and a variety of musical guests, have allowed Helm to raise money for medical bills and to resume performing after his nearly career-ending bout with cancer.
Initially, Helm only played drums and relied on guest vocalists at the Rambles, but Helm's singing voice grew stronger and is vocal input grew at his Ramble Sessions.
Below is Levon discussing the Rambles and his return to recording:
In the summer of 2007, I road-tripped to one of the Midnight Rambles in Woodstock. It was strictly a BYOB affair in which coolers and communal food were on tables in Levon’s garage. Pre-show I found myself playing with Levon’s dog and sharing a beer with Nick Lowe (you never know what musicians will appear at one of these things). It felt like a family picnic and the 150 or so other guests were friendly and shared food and good cheer very easily. The merely a “family picnic feeling spell” was broken when I was waiting to use Levon’s bathroom and noticed pictures of him with Dylan on the wall. The music of the ramble itself was sinuous, rustic, and pulsated to the beat that connects all moments in time. It felt like a musical history lesson.
Levon also takes the ramble on the road and here is a clip from a road show:
But-- see him at his Woodstock home if you can—that setting can’t be beat!
FYI--Levon’s daughter Amy also has a Band (Ollabelle) –which opened the ramble show—and they are quite good:
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