Levon Helm facing final stage of cancer

The Band member Levon Helm is sadly facing the final stages of throat cancer.

Diagnosed in 1998, Helm has been quietly battling the disease. However, on Wednesday, his family posted the following message on his official Facebook page:

Dear Friends,
Levon is in the final stages of his battle with cancer. Please send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey. ...
Thank you fans and music lovers who have made his life so filled with joy and celebration... he has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance! He did it every time he took the stage...
We appreciate all the love and support and concern.
From his daughter Amy, and wife Sandy.

The 71-year-old mulit-instrumentalist was born in Arkansas, and lent his creative drumming style to folk rock legends The Band during the '60s and '70s. A comeback album in 2007 by Helm titled Dirt Farmer earned him a Grammy Award (Best Traditional Folk Album), as did its follow-up, 2009's Electric Dirt (Best Americana Album). A live album, Ramble at the Ryman released just last year, earned Helm another Grammy in the same category.

Our thoughts go to Levon and his family at this time.