LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the designating of a portion of a
local road, state Route 375 leading into Woodstock, New York, as Levon
Helm Memorial Boulevard

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those individuals who have brought entertainment and cultural
enrichment to the citizens of the great State of New York; and
WHEREAS, The arts, in whatever form depicted, are central to human
expression; they are truly a universal language and their contribution
to the development of friendship and understanding among all peoples
cannot be underestimated; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
designating of a portion of a local road, state Route 375 leading into
Woodstock, as Levon Helm Memorial Boulevard; and
WHEREAS, Woodstock, New York, resident and longtime member of The Band
whose distinguished music career spanned more than five decades, Levon
Helm, died on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at the age of 71; and
WHEREAS, A brilliant musician and a beautiful soul, Leon Helm was a
four-time Grammy Award winner and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame; he was an accomplished singer, drummer and mandolin player; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Levon Helm was a successful actor, acclaimed for
his roles in "Coal Miner's Daughter," "The Right Stuff," and other
films; his performance of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" at the
famous 1976 concert, "The Last Waltz" is preserved for posterity in
Martin Scorsese's 1978 documentary film; and
WHEREAS, Levon Helm's musical career is among the most-storied in
modern American music, filled with some striking paradoxes: The Band,
with which he made the indelible mark for which he will always be remem-
bered, took rock music back to its most distinctively American place,
yet he was the group's only American member; Helm was a rural Arkansan,
and grew up in the Mississippi Delta, yet he embraced New York's Hudson
Valley as his home; and
WHEREAS, Levon Helm won a remarkable three Grammy Awards in five years
for albums: "Dirt Farmer" in 2007; "Electric Dirt" in 2009, and "Ramble
at the Ryman" in 2011; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, Levon Helm was diagnosed with throat cancer and the
famous voice with the rich southern nuances was silenced to a whisper;
he still played the drums, mandolin and harmonica, often performing with
his daughter, Amy Helm, also a vocalist and instrumentalist; a great
emotional support to her father during this time, Amy appeared with him
regularly at Levon Helm Studios; and
WHEREAS, Miraculously, Levon Helm's voice slowly returned; he felt
comfortable enough to sing again live, and with imagination and vision,
he conceived The Midnight Ramble Sessions, a series of live performances
at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock; named for the traveling minstrel
shows of his youth, the first Midnight Ramble was held in January, 2004;
and
WHEREAS, Levon Helm was very much a part of the Woodstock, New York,
and Hudson Valley community; and
WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body that the quality
of life of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly enriched by
its exceptional cultural, educational and recreational institutions, as
well as the individuals of remarkable integrity and character whose
endeavors have enhanced the quality of life for the citizens of this
great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the designating of a portion of a local road, state Route

375 leading into Woodstock, New York, as Levon Helm Memorial Boulevard;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Levon Helm.