Levon Helm, singer and drummer for the Band, has died of throat cancer at the age of 71.

Helm was known for his soulful voice and drumming in many of The Band’s songs such as “The Weight.”

Helm’s website says he died peacefully Thursday afternoon.

Helm and his band mates were musical virtuosos who mined the roots of American music in the late 1960s as other rockers veered into psychedelia, heavy metal and jams.

The group’s 1968 debut, “Music From the Big Pink,” remains a landmark album of the era.

The Band bid farewell to live performances with a bang with its famous “Last Waltz” concert in 1976.

Some fans considered Richard Manuel The Band’s lead singer. But for many admirers, that honour belonged to the short, feisty Helm.