Levon Helm, singer and drummer for the Band, died today in New York. He was 71.

"He passed away peacefully at 1:30 this afternoon surrounded by his friends and bandmates," Helm's longtime guitarist Larry Campbell tells Rolling Stone.

"All his friends were there, and it seemed like Levon was waiting for them. Ten minutes after they left we sat there and he just faded away. He did it with dignity. It was even two days ago they thought it would happen within hours, but he held on. It seems like he was Levon up to the end, doing it the way he wanted to do it. He loved us, we loved him."

A note on Helms' Facebook page says simply: "Levon Helm passed peacefully this afternoon. He was surrounded by family, friends and band mates and will be remembered by all he touched as a brilliant musician and a beautiful soul."

Levon was a great singer, drummer, & actor. There was just something so authentic about everything he did. He should have won a best supporting Oscar for Coal Miner's Daughter. I've been a fan since the late 70's. The guy was just great in my book.