The Band's Levon Helm, dead at 71

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Famed drummer of acclaimed and influential roots rock group The Band Levon Helm died today in New York after a long battle with cancer.

According to the Chicago Tribune:

Levon Helm, the founding drummer of the Band who became a creative force in roots music and cherished Americana icon as a solo performer, died today at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York after a long battle with cancer. He was 71. "We lost Levon at 1:30 today surrounded by friends and family, and his musicians have visited him," guitarist and frequent Helm bandmate Larry Campbell told the Times Herald-Record. "As sad as this was, it was very peaceful." The Arkansas-born musician -- who formed the influential group as the Hawks, the Toronto-based backup unit for rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins -- was the original drummer for Bob Dylan's first touring electric group.

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