Levon Helm: A Lesson from Paul Butterfield

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.

[@nicholasfurnari8691]

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]

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

[@danielnradu]

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

[@handidrummed]

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

[@VintageSG]

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

[@BBBri57]

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]

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

[@GCAT-zv9in]

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

[@ReesCandee]

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!

[@jimmiller7971]

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]

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

[@fulltiltgonzales]

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

[@jackschwitz]

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

[@MrGandharva108]

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

[@junepolkowski1755]

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

[@artmonk8596]

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

[@clarkewi]

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

[@keithwelch2137]

clarkewi dude he plays everything but all great musicians do

[@Snakefinger1000]

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 .

[@michaelwatts5656]

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!

[@YogsenForfoth]

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

[@bobm549]

Levon , a true gentleman .

[@billcarson6790]

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!

[@jeffmitchell9863]

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

[@Vodichka9]

Great guys, Paul Butterfield and Levon Helm.

[@rhondayates2972]

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

[@GoodbyeStranger1]

True genius. Rest in peace, Mr. Helm.

[@zenzen1916]

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

[@DH-ij9pe]

Noone like Levon. Such an amazing human.

[@Jinshiling01]

Miss him so much!

[@18winsagin]

A courageous man.

[@ZOLOCA]

Thats what Butter Said! Gotta be true

[@TorkG8]

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

[@TCS_Aquatics]

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

[@MrHarpboy]

meraviglia!!!

[@jkajje2945]

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

[@brukingcoscia9932]

go levon we miss you

[@gomerpyle842]

Paul should appreciate

[@jeffmitchell9863]

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?😢

[@lynne6417]

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

[@jimgeary]

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

[@harmonicalessonsnyc6386]

cool! do you still play?

[@k3304]

at this point Paul Butterfield passed already, correct ??

[@BarryMiller2956]

+k3304 yes, in '87.

[@daviddoyle4516]

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,,,

[@3345646]

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]

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

[@calliope6991]

Can you play sharps and flats on the harmonica?

[@TheDoctorgus]

Yes. You bend the notes to get them.

[@roberthayler1729]

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.

[@dimwitt222]

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

[@LuvBlues64]

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

[@canoh1]

I have that great slbum

[@MrGitpicker]

Yeah sure he did..

[@glenpittman2645]

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

[@keithwelch2137]

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]

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]

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]

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

[@donttreadonmeiwonttreadony2360]

You're racist

[@jamesrusso2523]

Rip...

[@catmanbluz]

He doesn't look like Butterfield and the voice is different

[@Vodichka9]

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

[@FalloutHeaven]

I thought only guitar players were eccentric musicians.

[@ziapsp4167]

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

[@Buelligan88]

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!"