Levon Helm, 1940-2012

Thanks again to Uri Kohen for drawing attention to the death yesterday afternoon of Mark Lavon 'Levon' Helm, an enormously influential musician whose long, varied, and productive career did much to create what is now considered the 'Americana' genre. Uri points out that Tim Rogers has put it on record that Levon Helm is the reason for his playing the mandolin.

Uri also sends this link to a news item on USA Today, out of many similar items on the internet. Here, for instance, is the Daily Telegraph obituary. There is, as one would expect, large coverage by Rolling Stone, including a gallery of photos, among which photos 5, 9, and 10 show Levon Helm with mandolins.

Update 20 Apr.: John Lawless's 'Levon Helm, friend of bluegrass, passes' is on Bluegrass Today. It includes video of a jam with the Steep Canyon Rangers.