Levon: From Down in the Delta to the Birth of THE BAND and Beyond

by Sandra B. Tooze

A dazzling, epic biography of Levon Helm--the beloved, legendary drummer and singer of the Band.

He sang the anthems of a The Weight, Up on Cripple Creek, and Life Is a Carnival. Levon Helm's story--told here through sweeping research and interviews with close friends and fellow musicians--is the rollicking story of American popular music itself.

In the Arkansas Delta, a young Levon witnessed blues, country, and gospel hit in a head-on collision, as he put it. The result was rock 'n' roll. As a teenager, he joined the raucous Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks, then helped merge a hard-driving electric sound with Bob Dylan's folk roots, and revolutionized American rock with the Band. Helm not only provided perfect in the pocket rhythm and unforgettable vocals, he was the Band's soul.

Levon traces a rebellious life on the road, from being booed with Bob Dylan to the creative cauldron of Big Pink, the Woodstock Festival, world tours, The Last Waltz, and beyond with the man Dylan called one of the last true great spirits of my or any other generation.

Author Sandra B. Tooze digs deep into what Helm saw as a devastating betrayal by his closest friend, Band guitarist Robbie Robertson--and Levon's career collapse, his near bankruptcy, and the loss of his voice due to throat cancer in 1997. Yet Helm found success in an acting career that included roles in Coal Miner's Daughter and The Right Stuff. Regaining his singing voice, he made his last decade a triumph, opening his barn to the Midnight Rambles and earning three Grammys. Cancer finally claimed his life in 2012.

Levon is a penetrating, skillfully told tale of a music legend from Southern cotton fields to global limelight.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Biography Memoir

499 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2020

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more of a superficial fan biography than something more meaningful. I was disappointed. I enjoyed learning about Levon Helm’s life but I’m hoping something better comes along. Everything is just breezy and cute even when discussing some serious things. The cancer is the most major but also jokes about how Levon slept with so many women when he was young that he carried around antibiotics and a syringe to give himself shots in the butt when he got the clap. Ha ha.

[Joseph Kinsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited for this, expecting a more substantial biography. I think this would have worked better as an oral history, considering how many extensive quotations are included from those who knew Levon. The real value of the book is in these new interviews, as the author doesn't offer much insights herself. The writing is kind of amateurish at times, and I found the technical descriptions of Levon's drumming distracting. Overall, though, it's worth a read for any fans of Levon and The Band.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought maybe I knew the whole Levon story after reading Levon's "This Wheel's On Fire" and Robertson's "Testimony," but Sandra Tooze's "Levon" goes much deeper. Her dozens of interviews from Turkey Scratch to Woodstock and everywhere in between really make Levon three-dimensional. Everyone loved him and those who know music admired his talent, heart and soul, especially when it comes to drumming. We see in sad detail the feud that pitted Levon, Garth, Rick and Richard against Robbie Robertson. We see the struggles with finances, substances, management, but we see the triumphs as well. It's an engaging story of a guy who just loved to play, and whose influence on American music is much bigger than many of us realize.

[Jennifer Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent biography of one of America's most be!oved and influential musicians.

As a fan of Levon Helm for over 50 years I was excited to hear about the release of this biography. I have listened to, watched, and read everything available connected to The Band and its individual members, especially Levin and this book ranks at the top of anything written about them. A must-read for anyone who loves Americana.

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sandra B. Tooze’s biography of Levon Helm is worth the read for fans of The Band and particularly for those who, like me, followed the career of Levon Helm.
I would have to agree with the other reviewer of this book (Linda): Much of it reads like a fan’s concert review (Levon’s influences; his drumming techniques; his style, his strategies and techniques at various venues; critiques by other drummers, as well as quotations from concert reviewers). Beyond this, though, readers will learn a lot by reading this book, especially about Helm’s family and extramarital exploits (Cathy Smith becomes a significant figure as well as Helm’s drug use in the late 60s).
The real story, however, is found throughout the last half of the book: Helm’s utter contempt for, and estrangement from, fellow band member Robbie Robertson. Much of this has to do with Robertson’s relationship with Albert Grossman and the song publishing/business arrangements Robertson made with him and various record companies. Every time Robertson is mentioned Helm is quoted or referred to in a manner that reinforces his loss of respect for Robertson. That is not to say that the book is one-sided: Robertson is quoted: a CBC interview with Shelagh Rogers, quotes from Robertson’s autobiography “Testimony”, Rolling Stone interviews, and so forth, in order to give the semblance of another perspective on the relationship. Robertson’s supporters are also quoted, so the book is noteworthy for this reason alone. But the author does use a lot of ink documenting each of Helm’s refusals to appear at every function where Robertson was or would be present: Grammy Award presentations, induction of The Band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Hollywood award ceremonies, Record company parties honouring the contributions of The Band etc. The fact that each one of these incidents is mentioned reinforces Helm’s dislike for Robertson.
Further to this is the poignant story of Helm’s relationship with his wife and children during his battle with cancer, particularly that of his daughter. It was this relationship that, from the author’s standpoint, fueled the late success of Helm’s music career with his Midnight Ramble concerts and subsequent Grammy Award winning albums (3 in all between 2007 and 2012).
So, despite the author’s support for Helm's animosity towards Roberston and Grossman, she has written a very good account of Helm’s career and added another chapter to the history of one of the world’s greatest contributors to American popular music. Definitely worth reading for that reason alone.

[Barry Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a member of The Band, Levon Helm became an American icon because of his singing and drumming. This biography by Sandra B. Tooze gives a detailed account not only of his early life and rise to fame and the vast influence The Band's music had but all the many other projects he did in music over his lifetime, his extensive film career and all the benefit and charity work he did that caused him to become even more legendary after an hiatus caused by his throat cancer surgery. By the time he passed he had become a truly legendary figure of Americana. - BH.

[Lee Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this from the library after watching the recent documentary about The Band/Robbie Robertson hagiography Once Were Brothers, because I wanted to hear some more of the other side of the story from the other side. While this didn’t give me much in the way of gossip or first-hand discussion of the decades-long vitriol Helm had for RR, I chose it because I knew it would cover the entirety of Levon Helm’s life, as opposed to his memoir, which was written in 1993. I still haven’t decided if I made the right choice.

I first discovered Levon Helm when he played Loretta Lynn’s father in Coal Miner’s Daughter, and I think I first discovered The Band when “The Weight” was used in The Big Chill. (Yet again, my adult life was shaped indelibly by watching HBO fanatically as a teen.) I admit to thinking Robbie Robertson was hot in Carny, and he was always a-ok with me because he was pals with Martin Scorsese, who is a god to me. A tiny Italian god.

As the years have gone by, and from what I heard about their feud, I became Team Levon. Plus, Levon Helm is one of the hottest men to have ever walked the USA, way more my type than RR. The documentary made RR come off as a pompous ass, but I have to admit that I could kind of see his point, if he wants everyone to get together and make music, and they’re all on the nod from heroin and what have you; you know how I am about junkies (and if you don’t just ask). But the fact that the remaining members of The Band all seemed to tour and record with Levon, and not so much RR (correct me if I’m wrong) tells me something. I don’t think it’s fair that RR, having taken songwriting credit and publishing rights, has been sitting pretty for 50 years while the rest of the group died or filed bankruptcy multiple times. Then again AGAIN, how much did Levon Helm cut off his nose to spite his face by refusing to reunite with Robbie Robertson and bury the hatchet? Robertson is probably a dick, but if they really were like brothers at one point, you have to think he’d be reachable if it weren’t for Helm’s plain old mule-headedness.

Now, back to the book: it’s not the best written; there’s an overemphasis on drumming technique which is lost on most non-musicians, I’d imagine. Also, the chapters on The Band are comparatively short against the “here is what Levon did for the last 30 years of his life” chapters. And while I appreciated the detail of the later years (again, that’s why I chose this book), a little bit more on The Band would have been appreciated.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is every bit as good as "This Wheel's On Fire." A detailed behind-the-scenes look at the musical career of one of the greats. It also makes me look at one of my favorite movies, The Last Waltz, with a jaundiced eye, due to the accusations directed toward Robbie Robertsonson.

[Bob Crawford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only one Levon Helm

I loved the Band. And despite the fact that I’m a guitar player, and the pretty boy playing the Fender was pretty good and co-wrote a lot of Band songs, in my heart Levon Helm WAS the Band.

My heart was with Levon when I saw him at Winterland in 1969, then again At Berkeley Community Theatre after appearing on Time’s cover. His voice and drums drove The Band.

This tale is cautionary, proving what has been true in my own amateur musical life: bands break up for a reason, and usually it is caused primarily by one member who marches to a different beat, and that beat is fame, money or both.

This book details how Levon dealt with that reality and how it nearly devoured him. His friends, family, adopted home town … and mostly the music itself … saved him.

This is an important read for a music fan. Now I have to force myself to read what the “other guy” had to say about the whole saga.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biography moves chronologically from Helm’s childhood in a poor, rural area in Arkansas (quite interesting to see how this background shaped his music and character) to his death. It’s awfully redundant, as Tooze repeatedly establishes through extensive interviews how friendly, modest, and tremendously talented Helm was. Perhaps a little more social context would have moved the narrative beyond a month by month accounting of performances, recordings, and personal relationships.

Evidently Tooze is a student of drumming. Her frequent descriptions of Helm’s techniques were lost on me but were intriguing and probably of much interest to drummers.

[Ronn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tooze is definitely respectful and reverential in he appreciation of Levon, and this book is well worth reading. It would definitely have benefits from some better fact-checking [Stan Lee did NOT publish Batman comics!] and editing [If Levon was kicked out of the drum corp, it would have just taken a few words to tell us why!]. These examples are of little consequence, but tend to cast some doubt on more important errors and omissions. She does seem to come down a little more on the 'Robbie' side of the composer credit issue. If you are a fan of The Band in general and Levon in particular, read and decide for yourself.

[William Dearth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Levon and The Band. This is a must read. There is no one in the music industry that I respect more than Levon Helm. Compelling book.

[Jitte Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book.... Fairly quick little read. Best part was dusting off all the old Levon albums for the soundtrack. Recommended to fans of Levon and The Band.

[Steve Hirsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd read Levon Helm's autobiography about 20 years ago when it was published. (I also got Levon and other members of the Band to autograph it at a show in DC in the 90s. Thanks to Jim Weider for his help with that!)
When I heard the author interviewed on the Band Podcast, I decided to read the book to try to get a more objective view of the Robbie-Levon feud. I am not a partisan of either of them but wanted more info on my all-time favorite band.
This is a good book with some weaknesses but, if you're interested in the Band or Levon, it's worthwhile.
Tooze interviewed many people who knew Levon well, particularly early in his life. She covers his childhood in detail along with the development of the Band as they back Ronnie Hawkins.
The rise and fall of the Band, as they become Bob Dylan's go to accompanists and stars in their own right, is thoroughly covered. For a few years, from 1968-1971, the Band are one of the most influential rock artists in the world. But they never had record sales that matched their influence.
Success was not good for them collectively or individually (other than Robbie and, to some extent, Garth) and after Stage Fright they seemed less interested in working together than in pursuing individual projects or simply partying.
Unfortunately, when I finished the book I liked Levon less than when I started it. His habit of blaming Robbie for everything that went wrong with the Band, including the deaths of Richard and Rick, becomes tiresome. Robbie may have gotten more credit and money than he deserved but he took care of business, something the others didn't do for themselves. Levon ran through all the money he made and if he'd made more, he would have run through that too. That wasn't Robbie's fault or his responsibility.
The book becomes much less detailed on Levon's life in the 1990s than it was on his earlier years. Once Richard dies, the book covers 5 years in about 5 pages, sketches in the 90s, then becomes more detailed again as Larry Campbell becomes part of Levon's life. Ironically, Campbell's appearance in the documentary "Ain't in it for my Health" which covers late in Levon's life seems to support Robbie's claims that he couldn't get Levon to co-write songs. Campbell spends a good amount of screentime trying to get Levon to help finish a song, without much success.
All in all, a good book, probably the best bio we will get on Levon.

[Jay Gabler · Rating 4 out of 5]

If ,em>Levon feels incomplete, it's because the Band were such a collaborative unit, it feels simply impossible to fully tell any one member's story without telling the others; that may be particularly true of Helm, who put such faith in his fellow musicians. That said, Tooze has written a sympathetic, highly informative, and always readable biography that's particularly notable for its close attention to Helm's distinctive style. She knows drumming, and without alienating a general audience, isn't afraid to get technical when it comes to explaining what gave Helm such a distinctive sound.

She gives the book's final words to Bob Dylan, who calls Levon Helm "one of the last great true spirits of my or any other generation." Thanks to Tooze, the rest of us now know what Dylan was talking about when he reflected on the boy from Turkey Scratch who gave his life over to American music and left a hole that no one else could even try to fill.

I reviewed Levon for The Current.

[TAB · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0jL...

I really liked this book most of all for all the music it has turned me onto besides that of The Band. I've linked my Spotify playlist I've made from all the music directly referenced or mentioned in the biography. The first few chapters are a lot of the stuff I've appreciated being more tuned into now: classic rock and roll, rockabilly and R&B artists that I had no idea Levon Helm was a part of those early days, speed demons whipping around the US and Canada rocking out every night in black suits with clean haircuts.

Sandra Tooze does an incredible job at pulling together quotes and sources and interviews all about Levon and from the man himself and weaving a narrative that if it sounds redundant at any point is only because he was a universally beloved musician and person. She also brings her own perspective as a drummer to the groundbreaking ways that Levon would play which I'll admit a bit of that went over my head but it was still delightful to imagine him there at the back feeling every beat and letting his soul pour out.

[Seth Arnopole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with the reviewer who said that this might have worked better as an oral history, but it is still a worthwhile read if you like the music of The Band. It's useful to have a book covering the entirety of Levon Helm's life, including his comeback in the 2000s. I don't think I previously understood that Levon was with Ronnie Hawkins at what was really the beginning of Hawkins's music career; how much Levon was really at loose ends when he left his own group in 1966 (before rejoining them nearly two years later); that his contribution to the songs of The Band really do go beyond "helping with the arrangements" or "being supportive while they were being written," no matter what others might say.

[Virginia Nichols · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely detailed in its chronological accounting of every single person Helm ever played with, when and where, interwoven with many, many quotes from persons expressing their opinions about what kind of a guy he was. Helm’s own book (written with Stephen Davis), is a much more enjoyable read with his first-person accounts of the same events. But this is a well-researched companion to it, particularly as it adds the details of his career as it continued for the next 19 fruitful years. You also learn the great esteem so many storied musicians had for Helm, things he would never have said about himself. I only posted two stars as I found it to be a somewhat tedious read.

[Dave Moyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book started as such a formulaic biography that I thought I wasn't going to like the book at all. About 40 pages in or so it took off, and I quickly changed my assessment. The author does not ignore the cantankerous aspects of Helm's is personality and his disdain for former "Band"-mate Robbie Robertson couldn't be more clear, but mostly Helm is portrayed as a kind, down-to-earth, big-hearted person. The musicians who speak on record have total respect and admiration for his drumming, singing, and overall multi-instrumental talents, that by the time you finish this book, you would think he was the most underrated musician of all time . . . and maybe he is.

[Sheri Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me laugh and yes made me cry. I knew the tears would be there. I'm a huge Levon fan, I took my time reading this, I went back and listened to my favorite songs, and checked out some I haven't heard in a long time..
I want to share one of my favorite lines from Billy Bob Thornton to Levon on his birthday.." There's a sound that doesn't exist anywhere else. It's called Levon Helm"... I believe this to be true. I'm even more in awe of this man after reading this book.. Was he a saint probably not but pretty damn close, smile...

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember the day Levon died. I wanted to tell everyone I passed, “Levon’s gone.”

As a fan, I’ve read several books about The Band and Levon’s life. I didn’t know all the musical names in the book, so I skimmed some of this. But this book gave more emphasis to what a popular good guy Levon was. It also made clear how far back and how strong Levons’s anger at Robbie Robertson was.

Recommended for Levon super fans.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this book. The Band is in my Pantheon of favorite musical groups. But The Band quite literally wouldn't have been The Band without Levon. Their unique sound is largely due to Levon Helm and Garth Hudson, though Robbie Robertson gets most of the credit because he was the primary songwriter.

Anyway, I wish I could have seen Levon play live. This book filled me with envy for those who have.

Consumed as an audiobook, and the narration was fantastic.

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid biography of an extraordinary drummer, and singer, and musician. Well written, in that it charts the timeline just fine. And gets to the major relationships, and understands the niggle between Levon and Robbie, and the fact that Levon had the back of those in the band that struggled (Garth, Richard, even Rick). And a good reminder of just how versatile, and innovative Levon was as a player, and how stubborn (mostly, correctly, rightly so) he was as a human. Recommended.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and in depth look at a musician and actor who influenced his peers and music in general. Always a good sign for me is that reading this book made me look into more about the topic so have spent a lot of enjoyable time on YouTube watching and listening to Helm and the Band, plus dipping into his movies. Free ebook from the library.

[Denele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandra Tooze has done a magnificent job researching the life of Levon Helm. The details presented in this book are truly amazing. But this work is not just a list of dates and events. She manages to bring in enough personal memories of those who knew him -- combined with his own remarks and memories -- to make him come alive on the page. Well worth the read.

[David Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

On sheer innate musical talent, Helms makes his way from a country shack in Turkey Scratch, Ark. to world-wide fame. No easy way to encapsulate his life, nor account for his natural-born skills as both drummer and singer. Got to admire his courage late in life. His CD, "Dirt Farmer" is highly recommended.

[Dennis Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a big fan of the Band, I found this a great read . It follows their development in the early days with Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan through to the circumstances which culminated in the acrimonious Last Waltz. Highly recommended to all you music fans

[Malcolm McKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched biography of an amazing musician and character. Doesn’t resolve the Helm/Danko/Manuel vs Robertson issues and probably muddies the waters in that regard by printing the gossipy stuff without much of any context.

[Paul Kulyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating.

The Band's story has all the highs and lows you would expect of a rock band. Helm was an amazing musician and lived for the music.

Didn't appreciate the depth of the rift with Robertson and the dark side of The Last Waltz before this.

Worth a read for any music fan.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ~

As a fan of Levon’s drumming, his voice and his work with the Band, the book did not disappoint. A lot of great stories and tid bits about a man who lived such a charismatic life and was a direct player in some of the 20th centuries biggest musical moments/movements.