Album, "American-Son" - Levon Helm

Album, "American-Son" - Levon Helm

Object number1995.007.05

Date1980

Associated LocationArkansas

MediumPaper, Ink, Vinyl

Dimensions12 1/2 x 12 1/2 in. (31.8 x 31.8 cm)

Credit LineOld State House Museum Collection

Terms

DescriptionA Levon Helm album entitled "American Son" produced in 1980. The album cover features a color illustration with a cameo of Helm flanked by American flags. Additional images include farm scenes, a hawk, a red building, a minor, a snow covered lodge, a dancing couple, and a music festival. Beneath the image of Helm, a banner displays the album titled. The back cover features song titles in a gray rectangle imposed against a background photograph of an American flag.

Mark Lavon (Levon) Helm was born on May 26, 1940 outside of Elaine, Arkansas in Phillips County and grew up in Marvell working on the family cotton farm. From the age of six, Helm knew that he wanted to be a musician. He learned to play the guitar when he was eight, traveled a local music circuit with his sister when he was twelve, and formed his first band, the Jungle Bush Beaters, while in high school. He got his first big break in 1957 when he met Ronnie Hawkins and joined his band, Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks. Lavon went on to release his first single “Leave Me Alone” in 1964 and two years later, the band known then as Lavon and the Hawks, accompanied Bob Dylan for his 1966 UK tour as his backup band. By 1968 the Band, the name used to refer to combination of musicians by Dylan and the Hawks, recorded what would become their debut album “Music from Big Pink.” The Band went on to influence rock legends such as Pete Townshend, Mick Jagger, George Harrison, and Eric Clapton. After the Band broke up in 1976, Lavon went on to release four albums and have an acting career. In 1994 Lavon and the other members of the Band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Lavon died on April 19, 2012 from throat cancer. In his memory, Act 810 of 2017 designated U.S. Highway 49 “the Levon Helm Memorial Highway” from Marvell to Helena.

Status

Not on view

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