80 years ago today (5/26/40), the late great drummer/vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Levon Helm was born. Noted as the vocalist of four for The Band with the raspy voice, Helm has contributed as much to Woodstock era rock as he has to the neo-Americana scene. With two Grammy award-winning albums, Dirt Farmer and Electric Dirt, released over the past 15 years and his downhome Midnight Rambles from his studio in Woodstock, Helm almost accidentally spearheaded a movement that helped spawn many of the folk bands that make up the lineup at the Newport Folk Festival. Helm still embodies a celebration of American roots rock even after death from cancer at age 71 in 2012. Check out this offbeat interview and performance from Late Night With Letterman in 1983…
