Singer-songwriter Amy Helm is the daughter of Levon Helm, the late legend of the Band, who passed away in 2012. Up until very recently, she helped operate Levon Helm Studios, a performance and recording space in Woodstock, New York. Her father founded the space, and his family has maintained it in his honor. Just a few months ago, Amy made some funny videos with Steely Dan's Donald Fagen to promote upcoming events at the space. (Fagen was married to Amy's mother Libby Titus when Titus died in 2024.) But now, Amy Helm says that she's being pushed out Levon Helm Studios under "disturbing circumstances."
The Overlook reports that the change in management at Levon Helm Studios is the result of a dispute between the Helm family and its business partners and that longtime shareholder Brian Parillo is now in charge of the facility. Parillo says that shareholders appointed him CEO after removing Amy Helm from management in May. Several days after Amy Helm was removed, Woodstrock police were called to the Barn, Levon Helm Studios' concert space, over a physical dispute between her and Parillo, but no charges were filed. The police report claims that Helm shoved Parillo, but police were unable to determine which one of them initiated physical contact.
Levon Helm's widow Sandy Helm is one of the partners who turned voting power over to Parillo, giving him control of 60% of the company's votes. Sandra says that she wanted the booking at the Barn to change and that she wanted to send a message to her stepdaughter Amy: "It was a way to show Amy that I was serious about restructuring and a new administration, and this is who it’s going to be." In a June court filing, Amy Helm accused Parillo of "financial exploitation and elder abuse," asking for the court to represent a guardian to represent the 76-year-old Sandra's interests.
Sandra denies that she was coerced or manipulated. She tells The Overlook, "I didn’t like that they wanted to portray Brian like some kind of a puppet master or Svengali that came in and overtook my mind. It’s been blown out of proportion. I just wanted to restructure Levon Helm Studios and bring it back to the glory days. And it’s as simple as that." Since the change in leadership, Levon Helm Studios' general manager, operations manager, and studio manager have all resigned.
Amy Helm was scheduled to take part in the Helm Family Midnight Ramble, an annual all-star event at Levon Helm Studios, that was initially scheduled for June and then rescheduled for August. In an Instagram post yesterday, Amy wrote that the show's won't be happening as planned, adding, "Neither I, nor our long time core staff, are currently part of Levon Helm Studios and have nothing to do with any decisions made or actions taken by the new 'management.'" Here's the full text of her message:
I have been informed that the August 1st & 2nd Helm Family Midnight Rambles have been "postponed."
In time, I will be able to speak to the disturbing circumstances behind the current situation at my father’s home and recording studio.
Neither I, nor our long time core staff, are currently part of Levon Helm Studios and have nothing to do with any decisions made or actions taken by the new “management."
What’s paramount to us right now is making sure that The Barn — both the legacy and the community of which we’re family — is safe and protected.
It’s not only been my responsibility, but my privilege to carry on my Dad’s vision. Along with an endless family of musicians and friends who were close to him, we have honored his memory and music, and will continue to do so.
My family and I are walking through this with faith in the legal system, and we thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support, it means so much to my family and me.Amy also shared many Instagram stories from friends and supporters that certainly suggest as much
When asked whether the Midnight Rambles will continue, Brian Parillo says, "That kind of remains to be seen. We’re trying to navigate that."
Parillo also shared this statement via the Studios' Instagram. "LHS is not a birthright," he writes. "It is Levon Helm's legacy." Here's the full text:
My name is Brian Parillo, and since May 2026, I have been the president of Levon Helm Studios, Inc, but that's not the beginning of my story with LHS. Back in 2000, Levon invited me and my band to come play with him in Woodstock. A lifelong friendship with Levon and his wife, Sandy, quickly developed. I am saddened that Amy Helm, his daughter, has chosen to make a private family matter public, and we now have no choice but to respond to set the record straight.
In 2004, Levon started the Midnight Rambles, which were a runaway success. Levon, I and two other partners became the founding stockholders of LHS when the company was formed on October 22, 2004. I have never received a penny in connection with my shares in LHS. I have also not received a penny from LHS since becoming president.
LHS is not a birthright. It is Levon Helm's legacy.
After Levon passed away too soon on April 19, 2012, Sandy and Amy split his shares, each becoming 40% owners of LHS. What transpired for the next 14 years was a concerted effort by Amy and her advisors to deny Sandy, me and the other stockholders access to any corporate records or any meaningful updates on how the company was being run. Sandy and I care deeply about Levon's legacy, and we were worried it was being coopted and mismanaged by Amy.
After attempting for years to resolve the dispute, our patience ran out. Sandy, I and the other stockholder elected me as the sole director of LHS, and I was appointed the president of LHS, so that I could conduct an investigation into how LHS has been run. No one is above being held to the legal, ethical and moral standards of running a company for the benefit of all of its stakeholders, which we believe includes Levon, our performers, guests, employees, officers, directors and stockholders. No claim of "birthright" washes clean a decade plus of malfeasance.
And Sandra shared this message on Instagram:
I am Levon’s widow, The Barn is where Levon and I lived for 44 years, through 2 Barns, a fire in 1991, now the present residence and studio.
Now our business has been presented to the public yesterday and my privacy invaded, which was Amy’s decision, not mine.
Levon built The Barn for a place to celebrate the glory of music. He would hate what is happening right now. He never liked conflict, he only wanted to make music, and “make people dance”.
I refuse to be any part of the erroneous portrayal of my private life, or to stand idly by and watch Levon’s legacy to be besmirched. This is no one else’s business. I welcome people to come here and enjoy what Levon left for us all to share and experience together.
Levon said “when trouble rears its ugly head, pour a little music on it”, and that’s what we will continue to do here at The Barn that Levon built!
Thank you, Sandy Helm
