Levon Helm: A Lesson from Paul Butterfield

Рет қаралды 111,805

12 жыл бұрын

In May of 1998 I interviewed Levon and his band and created a short documentary on the making of their tenth album Jubilation. After the interview with Levon, Mr. Helm, knowing I loved playing the harp, offered to teach me something he'd been taught by Paul Butterfield. Yes!
My dear friend and collaborator on the shoot, Gil Ross, had the presence of mind to push the record button on my camera and capture this "in between" moment. It's Levon the legend mentoring an amateur musician --- giving the gift -- direct from Paul to Levon - to me. And now to you!
Thanks to our production team, Gil Ross, Tom Leavens and Kevin Devick. And again, eternal thanks to The Band for their gracious acceptance of our film making efforts. It will always be one of my fondest shoots.
In remembrance and celebration of Mr. Levon Helm we share this humble out-take. A music lesson from Levon.

Пікірлер: 66

@nicholasfurnari8691 3 жыл бұрын

This would've been just before Levon was diagnosed with cancer. Towards the end of the Jubilation album, his voice started going hoarse and wouldn't clear up. In his book, he says he knew that he probably had cancer, but didn't want to go to the doctor until his manager and family dragged him in. The positive side is that he had more than 10 years of life following this, and most of that was highly productive. He even managed to regain his singing voice for several solo albums, which is a damn miracle by itself. Rest easy, Levon. We miss you.

@lu.c.clarke5411 10 жыл бұрын

can remember listening to Paul Butterfield Blues band..at 16. in my room. .. brilliance!

@handidrummed 10 жыл бұрын

Even short of breath he still puts soul into that. I miss Levon.

@danielnradu 11 жыл бұрын

The guy is short of breath recovering from cancer - but he's still so into to the music and playing for people. RIP Levon.

@fulltiltgonzales 6 жыл бұрын

Levon: an American original - ain't nobody else to fill his shoes.

@GCAT-zv9in 7 жыл бұрын

a master taught a sunbeam and that sunbeam let his light shine on all of us. Levon had heart.

@ReesCandee 7 жыл бұрын

beautifully said and so true.... at the end of this clip Levon trots of and I left the audio running because one can hear Gil Ross and me talking with such reverence about how beautiful Levon is... Thanks for the note! Long live Levon!

@junepolkowski1755 4 жыл бұрын

I wish I had a harmonica and I wish Levin was still with us. What a talented sweet man. 😊

@jackschwitz 12 жыл бұрын

incredible how much soul can be packed into a single note!

@MrGandharva108 11 жыл бұрын

I wish I had teachers like Levon when I was growing up. God Bless you Levon.

@jeffmitchell9863 4 ай бұрын

Geez!!! This is a diamond!!! I’ll be up all night and all day tomorrow!! Thank you!!

@jimmiller7971 5 жыл бұрын

In music, movies, and life itself, Levon didn’t have a mean bone in his body! He would talk to a stranger like a life long friend. He’d go to hell for you and not even ask your name! GOD must have been feeling truly generous when he BLESSED with Levon Helms..........

@jimmiller7971 5 жыл бұрын

Sorry, Helms. PS. Tears got in the way....

@bobm549 6 жыл бұрын

Levon , a true gentleman .

@VintageSG 12 жыл бұрын

You lucky, lucky man. What an honour. I could listen to his voice all day, talking, telling stories, teaching, singing. Wow.

@BBBri57 4 жыл бұрын

Gosh, he was such a striking character in the movie Shooter at the time unbeknown to me, I didn't realise it was Levon Helm until much later. I think The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down to be one of the greatest and saddest songs ever written, Levon lent that song the gravity and soul that elevated that song to where it needed to be and I will always be grateful he and the band gave us that gift. Sorry, so many words it is just that I totally agree with your comment. RIP Levon

@fgsp8909 Жыл бұрын

same bro .. he is the only guy i think i could listen just talking all day long, just his voice was absurdly amazing ! love levon

@YogsenForfoth 2 жыл бұрын

I take great pride in being from the same state as this amazing man. RIP Levon. ❤️

@Snakefinger1000 3 жыл бұрын

The cancer was well advanced by this time you can hear it in his voice. The incidence of cancer has gone through the roof over the last 100 years. It used to be rare but now it's like 1 in 3 men will have had it. and 1 in 4 women. I've had it a friend's had it luckily we're both in remission. A dear friend died from it, two of my cousins have died from it .

@billcarson6790 3 жыл бұрын

thank the lord above that we can always go back and hear Levon,s voice every now and then, does the soul a world of good!

@Vodichka9 3 жыл бұрын

Great guys, Paul Butterfield and Levon Helm.

@rhondayates2972 2 жыл бұрын

He died the same year as my father. Heaven got two great men that year. ❤

@clarkewi 11 жыл бұрын

Levon was such a great drummer and singer. The soul of "The Band". Never knew he played harmonica.

@keithwelch2137 7 жыл бұрын

clarkewi dude he plays everything but all great musicians do

@artmonk8596 11 жыл бұрын

You can't buy this stuff anywhere..and because of this recording we'll have it forever...sweet indeed...thanks Rees!!!

@michaelwatts5656 4 жыл бұрын

Amazing! Love it! Still hand that much wind pullin' on the harp when he was going through cancer it's subsequent treatment. Me him so much! The stories and flavour. The absolute talent! RIP Levon!

@GoodbyeStranger1 5 жыл бұрын

True genius. Rest in peace, Mr. Helm.

@18winsagin 4 жыл бұрын

A courageous man.

@DH-ij9pe 4 жыл бұрын

Noone like Levon. Such an amazing human.

@Jinshiling01 11 жыл бұрын

Miss him so much!

@zenzen1916 Жыл бұрын

🤔..Levon was a fun person..so glad he introduced me to Paul Butterfield,my soulmate, our son, Justin, reminds me of him.

@MrHarpboy 12 жыл бұрын

meraviglia!!!

@brukingcoscia9932 7 жыл бұрын

go levon we miss you

@ZOLOCA 11 жыл бұрын

Thats what Butter Said! Gotta be true

@TorkG8 11 жыл бұрын

God rest Levon's beautiful soul....although I doubt it...he'll be up there jammin' away with Rcik Danko and Richard Manuel. :)

@jkajje2945 3 жыл бұрын

Levon i want to see you on the other side if there is one

@gomerpyle842 4 жыл бұрын

Paul should appreciate

@Phuk_Yew 4 жыл бұрын

I'm going to get that Muddy Waters Woodstock album now....

@jeffmitchell9863 4 ай бұрын

Do you know where I can find the recordings of Levon expressing his real feelings about RR ?? I heard it a few weeks ago while working on my sound rig but I didn’t stop to see what hit was called?😢

@jamesrusso2523 5 жыл бұрын

Rip...

@harmonicalessonsnyc6386 10 ай бұрын

cool! do you still play?

@dimwitt222 12 жыл бұрын

THANK YOU, what a F????in treat

@jimgeary 4 жыл бұрын

This reminds me of a friend who beat a DUI test (late 80s) by sucking instead of blowing and the cop gave up.

@lynne6417 3 жыл бұрын

He'll always be Loretta s daddy to me.....

@canoh1 7 ай бұрын

I have that great slbum

@roberthayler1729 2 жыл бұрын

Such a shame that Levon is gone. It’s hard to watch this with his voice so weak compared to when he was in full health.

@3345646 Жыл бұрын

Harp players use a “C” harp. I think Levon is teaching throat vibrato here. I think “butter” was having him do it slowly over and over til he got the hang of it.

@czechmike 11 жыл бұрын

No wonder Levon befriended John Martyn, when he visited America ..

@k3304 9 жыл бұрын

at this point Paul Butterfield passed already, correct ??

@BarryMiller2956 8 жыл бұрын

+k3304 yes, in '87.

@daviddoyle4516 5 жыл бұрын

Yes Saint Paul had left us by then,,,,unappreciated genius that every harp player learned from.I believe he is still unsurpassed to this day,,,

@MrGitpicker 12 жыл бұрын

Yeah sure he did..

@LuvBlues64 7 жыл бұрын

The great Paul Butterfield must have been U blocker then...

@calliope6991 3 жыл бұрын

Can you play sharps and flats on the harmonica?

@TheDoctorgus 2 жыл бұрын

Yes. You bend the notes to get them.

@Vodichka9 10 жыл бұрын

@lu.c. clarke: Well, that makes you very cool!

@ziapsp4167 5 жыл бұрын

2:36 Thats what my wife said to me last night

@FalloutHeaven 7 жыл бұрын

I thought only guitar players were eccentric musicians.

@Buelligan88 7 жыл бұрын

There hasn't been a musician who was worth a damn who never made people around them at some point scream, "For God's sake, stop, stop, STOP... please stop!"

@glenpittman2645 7 жыл бұрын

cigarettes killed levon helm. cigarettes should be banned in the united states.

@keithwelch2137 7 жыл бұрын

glen pittman yeah but he was 70 years old I'd say I'm right there with you if was in his prime but can you picture levon with a vaporizer ? he was a perfect soul

@highnumber9494 7 жыл бұрын

glen pittman All the guys in The Band smoked like chimneys (as did most of their 60's/70's rock peers). I think in Levon's case, he was a kid who grew up near tobacco country (although he and his family worked cotton). In his early rock n' roll days, Levon played the juke joint dives and having a cigarette was part of it all. This didn't change as he became a rock star in the late 60's/70's. I think though, peers like Robertson, McCartney, Townshend, etc. put down the cigarettes where a few like Helm, Danko, Garcia kept the habit later in life. I think if Helm had maybe quit in the early 80's, he would have had a less taxing life in his 50's and 60's...maybe we would have had him for another 10 years. That said, he was a trooper during his post surgery years (I saw him play twice in those years and met him). All he ever wanted to do was play music and that he did right to the end.

@tommypwood672 6 жыл бұрын

that may be,,,,,,,but ban?????????? Nearly all of the Netherlands and Belgium smoke and have their heinikens----Holland is noted for longevity--------they exercise and bike like crazy,,,also less stress--all comes with price I guess

@tommypwood672 6 жыл бұрын

plus Levon loved them doobies now and then,,,clip with Billy bob thornton

@donttreadonmeiwonttreadony2360 5 жыл бұрын

You're racist