Danny Petraitis and Levon Helm: Ramble at the Ryman

Danny Petraitis (1957 – 2009)

Levon Helm: Ramble at the Ryman premieres tonight, Thursday, June 25, at 8:00 p.m. on NPT. It is also scheduled to be broadcast on PBS stations nationwide as part of the August membership drive. The show was co-produced by Danny Petraitis, a beloved member of Nashville’s music community, along with Americana Music Association executive director Jed Hilly and others. Petraitis died in Nashville on June 3, at the age of 52, after an extensive battle with brain cancer. On the eve of the broadcast premiere of the Levon special, Hilly sent a note to friends and associates that I felt — excerpted here with Hilly’s approval — should be shared with the Nashville community.

Dear Friends

I imagine that most of you are well aware of the fact that Danny (Petraitis) played an instrumental role in the filming of this performance last fall and I thought I would take a moment to share some thoughts with you. Oh, I couldn’t possibly capture all of Danny’s friends email addresses, so please feel free to make them aware of this too.

As the credits will roll at the end of the PBS show tomorrow evening, I have the honor of being listed as co-producer along with Danny Petraitis on the program. I am so grateful for Mr. Helm and for Martin Fischer, who put their trust in us to make this project come to fruition. It was Danny who called me after the first Ramble in 2007 and said, “We have to bring Levon back to Nashville. And Film it!”

Rolling Stone called Levon’s Ramble the ‘Jam of the Year’. Many of you were lucky enough to have been at the Ryman that night. Many of you heard about it. Suffice to say the performance justified the passion to film it.

Without Danny, this would never have happened.

I viewed the rough cut the other night. There is at least one image that struck me in the broadcast. I think its during the song “Shape (I’m In),” there’s Danny, stage left, standing next to Sheryl Crow. It’s very hard to describe the feelings that rushed over me when I saw that image. I am sure that for this group of readers, you will have your own emotional response if and when you watch this.

Oh, and I expect Danny expects you to WATCH it!

There were so many people involved in this production – too numerous to list. We had arguments and battles. At least one conference call per week for the better part of the last 12 months. We didn’t always agree on things. But we all agreed on one thing: that this show will forever be credited:

In loving memory of our dear friend
DANNY PETRAITIS
1957 – 2009

In kindness and love, enjoy the show. Thanks DP. We got it done!

Jed
Jed Hilly
Executive Director
Americana Music Association

To share your own thoughts about Danny, or learn more about him, please visit the Caring Bridge page dedicated to him.