Robbie Robertson, the renowned guitarist-songwriter-singer who led the Band to rock prominence in the 1970s, passed away at the age of 80. His management announced that Robertson died in Los Angeles on Wednesday after a lengthy illness. In a heartfelt statement, his manager of 34 years, Jared Levine, revealed that Robertson was surrounded by his loving family, including his wife Janet, his ex-wife Dominique, her partner Nicholas, and his children Alexandra, Sebastian, Delphine, and Delphine’s partner Kenny. He is also survived by his grandchildren Angelica, Donovan, Dominic, Gabriel, and Seraphina.
Robertson recently finished his fourteenth film music project alongside frequent collaborator Martin Scorsese, titled ‘Killers of the Flower Moon.’ Per the family’s request, donations can be made to the Six Nations of the Grand River to support a new Woodland Cultural Center in lieu of flowers.
After the Band’s iconic 1976 farewell concert, ‘The Last Waltz,’ which was captured on film by Scorsese, Robertson continued to work with the director as a composer, music supervisor, and music producer. Their collaboration began in 1980 with films like ‘Raging Bull,’ ‘The King of Comedy,’ ‘The Color of Money,’ ‘Gangs of New York,’ ‘The Departed,’ ‘Shutter Island,’ ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ ‘Silence,’ ‘The Irishman,’ and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon.’ Despite his extensive film work, Robertson is best known for the timeless songs he wrote for the Band, including classics like “The Weight,” “Up on Cripple Creek,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “The Shape I’m In,” and “It Makes No Difference.” The Band’s story is beautifully captured in the 2019 documentary “Once Were Brothers.”
Just two weeks ago, Robertson gave his final interview to Variety, discussing his remarkable 55-year collaboration with Scorsese, including their latest project, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” set to release later this year. He expressed his gratitude for their enduring friendship and incredible body of work, stating, “We’re in awe ourselves that our brotherhood has outlasted everything. We’ve been through it; we’ve been there and back. I am so proud of our friendship and our work. It’s been just a gift in life.” The full interview will be published at a later date.
Robertson’s journey in music began when he joined the Hawks at just 16 years old. The group started as legendary American rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins’ backup band. The Hawks later separated from Hawkins in 1964, with Robertson leading other band members Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson. They went on to become Bob Dylan’s touring band during his historic 1965-66 tumultuous first electric tour. The Hawks reunited with Helm during the informal recording sessions with Dylan in 1967, known as the “basement tapes.”
Signed to Capitol Records in 1968 as the Band, they quickly rose to fame with their debut albums, “Music From Big Pink” and “The Band.” The Band’s unique sound drew inspiration from various genres of American music and influenced several generations of artists. Robertson wrote masterful songs that perfectly suited the Band’s distinct, layered voices, making him the group’s primary songwriter by their third album.
Throughout the ’70s, the Band achieved superstardom, largely due to their continued collaboration with Bob Dylan and their unforgettable performances at iconic festivals like Woodstock, Isle of Wight, and Watkins Glen. However, creative struggles fueled by substance abuse problems among the band members led Robertson to disband the group in 1976 with an extravagant farewell concert, “The Last Waltz,” documented by Martin Scorsese. Although they reunited without Robertson during the ’90s, the event effectively served as their legacy. Robertson then embarked on a sporadic solo career, dabbled in acting and screenwriting, and enjoyed a long and fruitful partnership with Scorsese.
Robertson’s contributions to music were duly recognized, as he and his bandmates were inducted into the Canadian Juno Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Songwriters in 1997.
Born Jaime Royal Robertson on July 5, 1943, in Toronto, Robertson developed a passion for music during his childhood on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. Influenced by American musicians, he began playing guitar in his early teens. Robertson’s remarkable career in music started when he joined Ronnie Hawkins’ band as a bassist, eventually becoming the lead guitarist. Through various transformations, the Hawks evolved into the Band, with Robertson taking a more prominent role as their musical journey progressed.
Robertson’s impact on the music industry is immeasurable, and his legacy will live on through his timeless songs and remarkable collaborations. He leaves behind a remarkable body of work and a lasting imprint on the world of music.
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