Sandra Tooze

This affectionate and reverential biography goes down smoothly, with the author as an enthusiastic advocate for Team Levon. Fans of The Band have coalesced into supporting either drummer/singer Helm or lead guitarist Robbie Robertson, and how tragic that the two went from being best friends in their youth to mortal enemies as adults, all due to money, power, and substance abuse. The book’s highlights are Levon’s seemingly perfect childhood, running wild in the country (he was voted Most Talented, Mr. Personality, and Best Dancer in his Turkey Scratch, Arkansas high school class of 1958) and the coalescence of The Band, from being backup to Ronnie Hawkins and to Dylan to birthing Americana, a new musical force. Readers familiar with Levon's achingly evocative call-and-response singing with bandmates Richard Manuel and Rick Danko might be surprised at how his drumming was considered to be the among the best of all rock musicians, due to his ability to shape blues, jazz, and rockabilly into his unique style. Levon was also a devoted and generous friend and family member. This loving portrait of the man and his memorable place in rock history continues on even after the group broke up, with Levon kept playing and delighting fellow musicians and audiences for another forty years. It’s a glorious tribute to an inspirational legend.… (more)