Levon Helm, key member of The Band, dead at age 71

An undisclosed medical procedure forced Helm to cancel a three Midnight Ramble concerts in February. By April, family members posted a note on Helm's website saying "Levon is in the final stages of his battle with cancer."

"(He) has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance!" read the note from his daughter Amy, and wife Sandy. "He did it every time he took the stage..."

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Online:

http://www.levonhelm.com

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AP Writer Michael Hill contributed to this report from Albany, N.Y.

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Hillel Italie is a national writer for The Associated Press. Follow him at http://www.twitter.com/hitalie

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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