BEST OF THE '00S: LEVON HELM

I've already pretty much said what I have to say about the great Levon Helm in my Best of '09: Levon Helm's Electric Dirt post. But to review: at the beginning of the decade, The Band's recent incarntion had split up in the wake of Rick Danko's death. Levon had throat cancer, was told he wouldn't sing again, and was facing foreclosure on his barn in Woodstock. He played some concerts to raise mortgage money called "Midnight Rambles," and raised enough money to fight off foreclosre, but they also attracted enough interest that they became an event that transcended the cause. He defeated his cancer. And put out two incredible albums, 2007's Dirt Farmer and this year's Electric Dirt. Great story, but the wonderful music is what makes him one of my artists of the decade.

More Best Of The '00s: Bob Dylan
Willie Nelson
Aimee Mann
Jeff Tweedy
David Johansen