After battling throat cancer for nearly 14 years, Levon Helm has passed away peacefully at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.  This what was posted on his website: "Levon Helm passed peacefully this afternoon. He was surrounded by family, friends and band mates and will be remembered by all he touched as a brilliant musician and a beautiful soul."

Helm's wife Sandy and daughter Amy released this statement yesterday as he was in the last stages of his life, "Please send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey.  Thank you fans and music lovers who have made his life so filled with joy and celebration... he has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance! He did it every time he took the stage... We appreciate all the love and support and concern," they wrote.