[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 57 (Thursday, May 11, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PAYING TRIBUTE TO LEVON HELM AND THE DECLARATION OF LEVON HELM DAY IN 
                          WOODSTOCK, NEW YORK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MAURICE D. HINCHEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2006

  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable 
and talented man, a man who I am proud to call my friend, Mr. Levon 
Helm.
  Levon once said of the music of Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys, 
``it really tattooed my brain.'' That's how I feel about Levon's music, 
which I have had the pleasure of enjoying since the late 1960s, when he 
recorded ``Music from Big Pink'' in West Saugerties, New York.
  Levon Helm was born on May 26, 1940 in Elaine, Arkansas. From an 
early age, Levon had a musical gift. He performed all over Arkansas 
with his sister Linda, entertaining crowds with a homemade string bass, 
harmonica and guitar. As a teenager he formed his own band, The Jungle 
Bush Beaters, and honed his musical gift by watching entertainers such 
as Johnny Cash, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and a young Elvis 
Presley.
  After The Jungle Bush Beaters, Levon joined The Hawks, which recorded 
such hits as ``Forty Days'' and ``Mary Lou.'' The Hawks sold 750,000 
copies of their record and appeared on Dick Clark's American Bandstand.
  After splitting with The Hawks' founder, Ronnie Hawkins, Levon and 
his band mates signed on as Bob Dylan's backup band, and followed Dylan 
to West Saugerties, New York, where they took up residence in a pink 
house, wrote and rehearsed. The group became known simply as The Band, 
and the outcome of that period was one of the most important albums of 
the 20th century, ``Music from Big Pink.'' It was the album that 
introduced Levon Helm to America, and it introduced me to their amazing 
sound.
  Luckily for Levon, he didn't put his roots down in the Hudson Valley 
just yet. While working in Los Angeles in 1974, he met the lovely 
Sandra Dodd who would become his wife seven years later. I am happy to 
know her and call her a friend.
  The Band continued to prosper in the early 1970s and in 1975, the 
barn and studio that Levon built in Woodstock was complete. 
Unfortunately it was just a year later that we said goodbye to The 
Band, but it would not be goodbye for Levon Helm.
  Over the next seven years, Levon continued pursuing his own musical 
career with cutting-edge albums like ``The RCO All-Stars,'' the self-
titled ``Levon Helm'' and ``American Son.'' Then in 1984, much to their 
fans' delight, The Band reunited, performing together and recording 
three more albums.

  In 1996, Levon was diagnosed with throat cancer, and we all feared we 
would never hear his voice again, but he miraculously recovered, and I, 
and so many others, still enjoy Levon's music at the Midnight Rambles 
he holds in his studio in Woodstock.
  For the past 30 years, Levon has been much more than our famous 
neighbor in Woodstock. He has, quietly and unobtrusively, been a very 
generous and committed member of our community. He has worked hard for 
and supported cancer centers, local little leagues, volunteer 
firefighters, members of the armed forces and school music programs.
  It is because of this great man, and the great music he produces that 
the Village of Woodstock, New York, has declared May 20 as Levon Helm 
Day. It continues to be an honor and a great pleasure for so many of us 
in New York and across America to bear witness to the incredible career 
and life of this very strong, extremely talented and generous man. I 
look forward to many more Midnight Rambles.

                          ____________________