Well gather round you old farts. 
At least those of you who remember The Band when they {we} were young and the music fresh and the air filled with dreams and hope.

Our pal Levon Helm has died at a respectable 71,
after toughing out one hell of a life.
http://gma.yahoo.com/levon-helm-dies—-the-band—singer-was-71.html

I gave my lady-love ~ who though from the same generation, wasn’t dancing in the streets back then ~
a short tour down memory lane. 
And what the hell, i figure i may as well share it here, along with a shout out to
Rick Danko who left us in 1999,
and, of course, Richard Manuel who left us in 1986.
Thanks For The Music!                                     

From the Lastz Waltz ~ The Band

Stage Fright

for the hell of it, a poem, then
Forever Young

some interesting recent stuff
http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/story/2012-04-19/levon-helm-the-band-name/54417196/1

Very sad day. The Band has always been one of my favorite Rock groups. I’ve been listening to their music all day. Shed a few tears here and there.

That is sad. I still have the vinyl!

We just watched a video of the Band at Woodstock playing “take a load off”, what a group! All of us old farts sang along and held back the tears. Lost youth really evokes an emotion. 

Cap’t Jack

Take a load off, Levon. You’ve earned it.