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Coffee Break

Coffee Break: Drummer singers

Drummer and singer Levon Helm performs during his concert at the Beacon Theatre March 8, 2008 in New York City.
Drummer and singer Levon Helm performs during his concert at the Beacon Theatre March 8, 2008 in New York City.Rob Loud/Getty Images

by Anna Reed

April 19, 2018

Levon Helm, the drummer and one of the vocalists for The Band, passed away today in 2012.

Helm formed his own high school band, the Jungle Bush Beaters, at 17, and he later joined The Hawks (who became Bob Dylan's backing group) who then became known as The Band. He sang on The Band classics like "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", "Up on Cripple Creek", "Rag Mama Rag", and "The Weight".

So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what drummer singers do you want to hear?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive. Or, when you register for a Minnesota Public Radio account, you can send requests via Alexa, too Just say "Alexa, ask The Current to play Song by Artist" e.g. "Alexa, ask The Current to play Left of the Dial by The Replacements."

Songs played

The Band - Up On Cripple Creek
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy
Buddy Miles - Them Changes
Husker Du - Sorry Somehow
The Velvet Underground - After Hours
Eagles - Life in the Fast Lane
The Monkees - I'm A Believer