Lavon Helm was an American musician who rose to popularity as the drummer and one of the three lead vocalists for the Band. For this role, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Helm passed away on April 19, 2012[1]. The Band’s recordings of “The Weight,” “Up on Cripple Creek,” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” feature Helm’s distinctive drumming style, multi-instrumental prowess, and intensely soulful, country-accented voice.
In Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980), The Right Stuff (1983), and Shooter (1986), Helm also had a successful acting career. He played the father of Loretta Lynn, Captain Jack Ridley, and a Tennessee guns expert (2007).
Levon Helm parents: Meet Nell Helm, Diamond Helm
Helm was raised in Turkey Scratch, a village in Marvell, Arkansas, where he was born Mark Lavon Helm. Nell and Diamond Helm, his parents, were cotton farmers with a passion for music. Early on, they encouraged their kids to sing and perform musical instruments. At the age of six, he saw Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys and made the decision to pursue music. At the age of eight, Helm picked up the drums and started playing the guitar.
