Levon Helm passed away on April 19, 2012. He was the drummer of The Band, the most transcendental and influential American band in the entire history of pop music. "Music From Big Pink", their first album released in 1968, was not only a masterpiece of creativity in music but also marked the beginning of what was later called Americana music. Robbie Robertson and Levon were one of those inimitable and defining creative duos in rock history. Dylan immediately realized this. The Staple Singers were the gospel family. With Pops Staples leading three of their sons, Cleotha, Pervis and Mavis and later with Ivonne replacing Pervis, they moved from the mid-fifties through soul, gospel and rhythm and blues coming to be considered true ambassadors of black roots music. After going through various record labels, in 1959 they released for Vee-Jay the album "Uncloudy Day" followed by "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?", both albums being a true jewel of modern gospel. Finally in the late sixties, they joined Stax Records in Memphis where Steve Cropper produced "Soul Folk in Action" and "We'll Get Over". His entry into Stax was an opening to larger audiences and their song "Respect Yourself", from their 1971 album "Be Altitude: Respect Yourself" ,elevated them to the top of the charts. Mavis Staples, at 73, is the only survivor of the family and the only one who, after Pops' death, continued her career as a singer. Today, with more than a dozen albums released, she is considered the most genuine gospel artist still touring around the world and belonging to a generation of singers who still carry within the true tradition and legacy of gospel in particular and black music in all its extension.