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Levon Helm in Final Stages of Cancer Battle

We’ve been and will continue to update this post with reactions from Levon’s friends, family, band mates and fans as well as any news on his condition.

We’re sad to report that the rumors making the rounds lately are true – our hero Levon Helm is in the final stages of his battle with cancer. His family has just released a statement…

[Photo by Parker Harrington]

Dear Friends,

Levon is in the final stages of his battle with cancer. Please send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey.

Thank you fans and music lovers who have made his life so filled with joy and celebration… he has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance! He did it every time he took the stage…

We appreciate all the love and support and concern.

From his daughter Amy, and wife Sandy

Levon was one of the first artists we covered on Hidden Track and one of our favorites. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Helm was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998 and underwent many radiation sessions to beat back the disease. The cancer hindered his singing voice, but Levon fought through it and went on to tour and play many Midnight Rambles at his home studio. The Band drummer was thought to be dealing with a back issue recently, though rumors started to spread last weekend that he was on “his deathbed.”

The Band – I Shall Be Released

The lack of response from Levon’s camp gave us the feeling, along with longtime nemesis Robbie Robertson having a kind word for him at Saturday’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, that today’s announcement was coming.

UPDATE: Barbara O’Brien, Levon’s manager, has shared this note:

Thank you, all, for the outpouring of kindness and love. I know Levon is feeling it and that love will help guide him through this final journey. Thank you for your respect for his, Sandy’s and Amy’s privacy. YOU are truly people with class and Levon would think the world of you. The pain of knowing we’re going to lose him is almost too much for all of us to bear at the moment. But it can’t be about US. This is about honoring this great man’s dignity and privacy. Let’s send him off with love, positive energy, lots of light and words of support and comfort. Keep sending the great posts. I’m going to read them all to him. Thank you so, so much!

Also, Robbie Robertson has weighed in on his Facebook page…

Last week I was shocked and so saddened to hear that my old band mate, Levon, was in the final stages of his battle with cancer. It hit me really hard because I thought he had beaten throat cancer and had no idea that he was this ill. I spoke with his family and made arrangements to go and see him.

On Sunday I went to New York and visited him in the hospital. I sat with Levon for a good while, and thought of the incredible and beautiful times we had together. It was heartwarming to be greeted by his lovely daughter Amy, whom I have known since she was born. Amy’s mother, Libby Titus, and her husband, Donald Fagen, were so kind to help walk me through this terrible time of sadness. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sandy.

Levon is one of the most extraordinary talented people I’ve ever known and very much like an older brother to me. I am so grateful I got to see him one last time and will miss him and love him forever.

-Robbie Robertson

As has The Band’s Garth Hudson…

I am too sad for words right now. Please continue praying for Levon and family.

Reactions have come in from around the musical world…

https://twitter.com/#!/Jeffreyaustin10/status/192355824729993216

https://twitter.com/#!/LisaHBand/status/192350237808009217

https://twitter.com/#!/okkervilriver/status/192359259005124608

https://twitter.com/#!/deertickmusic/status/192344516655722496

https://twitter.com/#!/NicoleAtkins/status/192339913671327745

https://twitter.com/#!/EricStangel/status/192355192606433280

https://twitter.com/#!/bowerypresents/status/192339639250599938

https://twitter.com/#!/oldtownschool/status/192355837216436225

https://twitter.com/#!/BBiB/status/192351884491759618

https://twitter.com/#!/tmwsiy/status/192349696910573568

https://twitter.com/#!/stevesilberman/status/192357740599975938

https://twitter.com/#!/warondrugsjams/status/192358440243433472

https://twitter.com/#!/heyscottyb/status/192351860005416960

https://twitter.com/#!/andykahn/status/192348039338409984

https://twitter.com/#!/Slash/status/192360005981323264

https://twitter.com/#!/flea333/status/192362744438194176

https://twitter.com/#!/scott_bernstein/status/192376227355566080

https://twitter.com/#!/originalwyllys/status/192357604268322818

https://twitter.com/#!/ShooterJennings/status/192380091119042560

https://twitter.com/#!/GuyForgetOPT/status/192380538789703681

https://twitter.com/#!/TheRyman/status/192381150533124097

https://twitter.com/#!/NekoCase/status/192404041169518592

https://twitter.com/#!/mike_gordon/status/192403661740191744

https://twitter.com/#!/Bonnaroo/status/192385701885648897

https://twitter.com/#!/gregseitz/status/192362098943201283

https://twitter.com/#!/Megafaun/status/192387965287280641

https://twitter.com/#!/MJMcKean/status/192387132713746433

https://twitter.com/#!/gracepotter/status/192397629748023296

https://twitter.com/#!/DrakeBell/status/192404198246187008

https://twitter.com/#!/TheWallflowers/status/192400878328754180

https://twitter.com/#!/kristopherRL/status/192400685424324608

https://twitter.com/#!/jennylewis/status/192406265341816832

https://twitter.com/#!/JPBarlow/status/192418294358212609

https://twitter.com/#!/hayescarll/status/192390434142687232

https://twitter.com/#!/bandofhorses/status/192475462373613568

https://twitter.com/#!/gracepotter/status/192489206080217088

https://twitter.com/#!/dredscotttrio/status/192619543204610048

https://twitter.com/#!/JoeNBC/status/192410506294865920

https://twitter.com/#!/pgammo/status/192413127227351044

https://twitter.com/#!/JoeNBC/status/192413533546356736

https://twitter.com/#!/pgammo/status/192414727970893824

http://twitter.com/grahamelesh/statuses/192632236665880576

https://twitter.com/#!/colinmeloy/status/192632645660852225

https://twitter.com/#!/r0bbier0berts0n/status/192640445606662144

https://twitter.com/#!/MatchboxTwenty/status/192725886141861888

https://twitter.com/#!/GavinGlassMusic/status/192680377263980544

https://twitter.com/#!/Glen_Hansard/status/192586449487527936

https://twitter.com/#!/JimIrsay/status/192739979489841153

https://twitter.com/#!/FillmoreSS/status/192738299184558080

https://twitter.com/#!/krishnabone/status/192745619683676161

https://twitter.com/#!/rosannecash/status/192753131367579648

https://twitter.com/#!/heyscottyb/status/192691130461200384

[Note: We’ll update this post with more reactions as they come in.]

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