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Texas songwriter Robert Earl Keen, who often worked with Leon's RCO All-Stars and appeared with Levon at his legendary "Midnight Ramble" events over the last few years, wrote this tribute in 2009 called “The Man Behind the Drums.” There is perhaps no greater tribute than recognition of your peers. Levon was a mentor to Robert Earl Keen and scores of other young performers and this song means all the more in that it's over three years old, as most tributes come after death. The MP3 below is from Robert Earl's Album "The Rose Hotel". Keen performed it live on “Austin City Limits” which you can watch at this Link: Austin City Limits

The Man Behind The Drums
~ Robert Earl Keen ~

We left New York City, with nuthin' but a song,
She'll be coming' 'round the mountain when she comes.
We wound up in Woodstock, at an old time jamboree,
Came to see the man behind the drums.

Son of a plain dirt farmer, from southeast Arkansas,
He was born in a bare ramblin' shoe.
Up and down the highway, and all around the world,
Laying down the rhythm and the blues.

We were hangin' from the rafters, singing every song,
That big barn band was hot as it could be.
Up there in the spotlight, the man behind the drums,
Was takin' all the load off for you and me.

Levon digs the doghouse, playing in The Band,
When he locks in to that backbeat it ain't hard to understand.
Get your body movin', celebrate your soul,
Levon digs the doghouse, that's sho-nuff rock and roll.
Yea, Levon digs the doghouse, that's sho-nuff rock and roll.