Arkansas musicians make news
REPRISING LEVON: A new documentary about the late Levon Helm is set for a national release in theaters in early 2013, followed by a video release planned for the summer.
The film, Ain’t In It For My Health: A Film About Levon Helm, is touted as an “in-depth and intimate look” at the music legend and former drummer and singer for The Band, who grew up in Marvell and died of cancer in April. Directed by Jacob Hatley, the documentary, filmed over a two-year period, follows Helm at his Woodstock, N.Y., home and barn studio during the creation of his first studio album in 25 years. The film chronicles Levon’s return to the spotlight after his 2007 comeback album, Dirt Farmer.
The film also addresses the challenges Helm’s revived celebrity raised, his continuing financial difficulties and his returning health problems. The announcement of the U.S. release of the film follows a star-studded concert at the Izod Arena in New Jersey last month that paid tribute to Helm. The show, “Love for Levon,” drew nearly 20,000 fans to hear musicians that included Roger Waters, Joe Walsh, Gregg Allman, Lucinda Williams, Mavis Staples and others celebrating Helm’s music.
GOING LIVE: Beebe native Cody Belew bested teenage singer and dancer Avery Wilson’s rendition of Chris Brown’s “Yeah 3X” on last Monday’s partone, two-hour knockout round of NBC’s The Voice by choosing and singing “Jolene.” That song, written and originally sung by Dolly Parton, rose to a No. 1 country hit in 1974 and implores another woman not to take her man.
“I’ve admired this song my whole life,” Belew explained on the show. “But it wasn’t until I heard Jack White do it, that I thought, ‘Well, a male can do this.’”
After the challenge, Belew said of team leader Cee Lo Green’s proclaiming him the winner of the round:
“I was blown away that he picked me. Live shows, here I come!”
BIG APPLE PRESS: The New Yorker’s Oct. 22 issue includes a “Talk” feature on country singer and Paragould native Iris DeMent on her visit to Steinway Hall, where she shopped for a piano while on tour promoting her new CD, Sing the Delta.
SWAN SONG: Songwriter and Mountain Home resident Bill Dees, noted for co-writing with Roy Orbison on the 1964 hit, “Oh, Pretty Woman,” died recently. Dees, who moved to the Ozarks region of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri more than 20 years ago, was 73.
MAKING THE LIST: Little Rock has been included as one of the Top 10 cities on Livability.com’s “2012 Best Downtowns in America.” The list highlights cities with populations of between 100,000 and 300,000 that are walkable, well-planned and have a variety of dining and entertainment options.