Levon Helm
By In my mind, The Band has the greatest two album stretch of any band in rock and roll history. Those first two albums are both perfect, not to mention their work backing Dylan. They combined fine lyricism with a combination of voices and amazing music. The first two of those voices, Richard Manuel and Rick Danko, destroyed themselves through substance abuse. Levon Helm tried to do this as well but he survived.
Levon Helm is in the final stages of a fight with cancer. I am hearing various reports on whether he has passed, but it will be soon. And it is very sad.