Levon Helm on Imus this morning

[GVD]

I saw Levon Helm on Imus playing "Don't ya tell Henry" for all it was worth. I had to leave for work so I Tivo'd the rest of the show and can't wait to see more tonight. Does anybody know what madel and year of mando he was playing? Looked like an old Gibson pumpkin colored oval but the script on the headstock looked like it said Martin. Either way it sure sounded good.

GVD

[Roachcoach]

Geez..Sorry I missed that really like Levon...did you know he sells cartoon balloons in town..(sorry elton).. Seriously though, he's been known to play Martins. That's what he played on "The Last Waltz". Have you ever heard his duet with Emmy Lou Harris? "Heaven ain't ready for you yet" on the sound track to Legend of Jesse James( I think that's what it's called). The song is also in Emmys new box set. Nice simple mando in that as well.

[Stephanie Reiser]

I did not watch it on television, as I dont own one. But I listen to Imus every morning and noticed that mando intro in the first tune. Sure sounded nice hearing a mando on that radio show I've listened to for 20 years.

[Spruce]

"I saw Levon Helm on Imus playing "Don't ya tell Henry" for all it was worth."

Was he singing? #Hope so...
He's had some heath problems that prevented him from vocalizing a few years ago, so I do hope he was singing it for all he was worth....

"Seriously though, he's been known to play Martins."

Every time I've seen him play, it's always been an F4...

[GVD]

"Was he singing"?

Yes he was and quite well I might add.

"Every time I've seen him play, it's always been an F4..."

Yeah that was what I was thinking too but this time it was defintely an A oval. My eyes just aren't good enough anymore to read headstock script unless I'm pretty close. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif But since I just got back from Winfield and was surrounded by a million Martin guitars I've got their logo pretty much burned in my retinas right now and it sure looked liked that's what it said on his mando even though the body looked more like a Gibson.

GVD

[addcourt]

I saw that part of Imus and am pretty certain he was playing a '50s/60s vintage Martin. Looked like a spruce top(though could have been unfigured Koa)and really 'fit' him nicely.

[pushinforty]

Any mention of Levon Helm or The Band brings memories flooding back. When I was 14 (1979 - OK, so you know my age) I saw Rust Never Sleeps and The Last Waltz within a few months of each other. It forever changed my musical life. I fell in love with folk-roots-rock music and I haven't looked back since. Just the sound of Levon's voice gets me in that place of "what could be more meanginful and moving than this."

BTW, The Band's version of Atlantic City circa early 90's is just incredible if you haven't checked it out - great mando and awesome harmonies. Michael

[Fretbear]

There was a friend's benefit held in the not-too-long past to save Levon's farm, and maybe some of Levon's "better pieces" had to go...He said in "This Wheel's On Fire" that the first thing he did with his first "rock star" cheque was go out and buy two Martin guitars.....

[elenbrandt-redux]

I guess Imus is over his "Dixie Chicks" phase...