John Barry on Levon Helm
Writer John Barry joins us on the podcast to talk his new book, "Levon Helm: Rock, Roll & Ramble—The Inside Story of the Man, the Music and the Midnight Ramble."
Ringo wrote the foreword, and Roger Waters, Graham Nash and Warren Haynes are among those interviewed. Larry Campbell, who served as Levon Helm Band Musical Director and produced or co-produced Levon's three Grammy-winning solo albums, which were inspired by the Rambles, had this to say about the book:
"John Barry was the perfect 'fly on the wall' during this great last chapter and final curtain call in Levon Helm's life. He was the quintessential observer from the early days of the Midnight Ramble to the end and has brilliantly captured the details and the spirit of that wonderful time
in this book."
Born in the Bronx, raised in the New York City suburbs of Rockland County and living in New York State's Hudson Valley since 1990, John W. Barry is an award-winning journalist with a passion for writing and a love of music.
This combination has brought John to some pretty incredible places and put him in the company of some incredible people. From Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan to Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado and many places in between, John's relentless pursuit of the stories, the people and the circumstances that define the world around us has enabled him to assemble the puzzle pieces of a compelling tale or two over the course of his lifetime.
John is a very proud graduate of Clarkstown South High School and the State University of New York at New Paltz, where he earned a journalism degree. The latter is what brought John to Ulster County, New York, and set him on his path to Woodstock, Levon Helm Studios and the Midnight Ramble. As a journalist for the USA Today Network's Poughkeepsie Journal in Dutchess County, New York, John found himself in the center of Levon's Midnight Ramble house concerts, getting to know Levon, his band, his crew, his management team, Team Levon and, of course, his fans.
Prior to serving as the music writer for the Poughkeepsie Journal, John wrote for his hometown newspaper, The Journal News, as a police reporter, covering municipal beats and writing extensively about local angles to the Northern Ireland peace process. John has also freelanced for RollingStone.com and since leaving the USA Today Network at the end of 2020, has been working as a freelance writer and blogger, and editorial consultant.
In the wake of the publication of this book, John is already working on his next project and continuing to do what he enjoys most, hiking and camping in the Hudson Valley's stunning terrain, cooling off in its swimming holes and breathing in deeply its crisp night air.
Purchase a copy of the Levon book here.
Find more great podcasts from Osiris Media, the leading storyteller in music.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Greatest Hits
Wondering where to start or where to go next? Check out some of our most-listened-to episodes.
Andy McCluskey: kicking down fascist art with OMD
The Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark frontman chats about art movements, political treachery, Kraftwerk's impact, and the brilliant album Bauhaus Staircase.
David J: unearthing tracks from the attic
The Bauhaus and Love and Rockets bassist chats with guest host Michael Donaldson about lighting candles, the magic(k) muse, touring with Jane's Addiction, and the album collecting his early demos, Tracks From The Attic.
Hainbach: crafting soundscapes from forgotten relics
Experimental musician, YouTube personality, and excavator of rare, electronic sound-making artifacts — Hainbach delivers a fascinating look into his prolific musical activities.
Ibrahim Maalouf: a conversation on harmony, heritage, and hope
The trumpet virtuoso talks about his father's inspiration, the Middle East's influence on symphonic music, how Bach and Mozart were punks, and the ideas behind his album Capacity To Love.
That Petrol Emotion
Today, the spotlight shines on the wildly influential post-punk group, That Petrol Emotion. Guitarist and songwriter Raymond Gorman and lead singer Steve Mack joined Spotlight On host Lawrence Peryer to mark the release of th...
David Rodriguez talks community, culture, and his work with NJPAC
With the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, David creates musical milestones in Newark, NJ, and beyond.
Diana Pasulka: a religious study of UFOs and nonhuman intelligences
With her books Encounters and American Cosmic, religious studies professor Diana Pasulka explores the modern edges of belief.
Dominic Miller
The ECM Records artist and Sting's longtime guitarist takes a seat in the Spotlight.
Michael Kuelker on The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Today, the spotlight shines on author and educator Michael Kuelker, here to talk about his recent book, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils On Record: A Narrative Discography . Michae is a teacher, writer, and reggae radio DJ in St...
John Barry on Levon Helm
Writer John Barry joins us on the podcast to talk his new book, "Levon Helm: Rock, Roll & Ramble—The Inside Story of the Man, the Music and the Midnight Ramble." Ringo wrote the foreword, and Roger Waters, Graham Nash and …
Steve Kimock
Steve Kimock talking about the new Zero reissue of “Naught Again” and finding the Grateful Dead scene
Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley Mason, CBE (born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He is the only member to feature on every Pink Floyd album, and the only constant member s...
Grahame Lesh
Based in the musical hotbed of Marin County, California, Grahame Lesh is a guitar player and singer-songwriter for Midnight North, Phil Lesh & Friends, & the Terrapin Family Band. A mainstay in the scene centered around Terra...