Arkansas flags to fly at half-staff for Levon Helm

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe has ordered that flags fly at half-staff on Friday to honor Arkansas native Levon Helm, who died last week.

Helm, who grew up in Turkey Scratch, attained worldwide fame as a member of The Band. He died last week after battling throat cancer.

The governor issued a proclamation honoring Helm. Beebe called Helm "an enormously talented performer and gifted musician whose Arkansas roots can be heard and felt in his voice and in his music."

Helm is widely known for songs he sang with The Band, including "The Weight" and "Up on Cripple Creek."

A public memorial was held Thursday in Woodstock, N.Y., where Helm lived until his death.

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