Uncle Levon

A little trip down memory lane

Growing up, I called him Uncle Levon and it irked me to no end that he played with The Band because it caused a lot of “who’s on first” confusion. I was little, maybe 8, and desperate to be cool. Confusion is not cool and I wanted everyone to know that I knew him and got to spend time with him when he was in town on tour.

Backstage, Levon tapped out beats, sipped water, and chatted with everyone. I didn’t know who Bob Dylan was, but people were always asking him “What was he really like?” I could tell he was tired of this question because he gave the same answer every time, like a politician with a talking point.

“Uncle Levon, who do people ask what you’re really like?”

“You’re a smart one, aren’t you?”

“Yup!”

“You’re daddy’s smart. He always was. Even way back when.”

“Do you want people to know what you’re really like?”

“Not if they have to ask!”