Robbie Robertson, one of rock’s greatest storytellers andThe Band’s guitarist and primary songwriter, died Wednesday at age 80.
The musician, who famously penned the group’s classics including “The Weight,” “The Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie Down" and “Up on Cripple Creek," died in Los Angeles “after a long illness,” according to a press release.
Robbie Robertson and drummer Levon Helm of The Band perform during a concert at Queens College in New York.Harvey L. Silver/Corbis via Getty
Harvey L. Silver/Corbis via Getty
Born Jamie Royal Robertson in Toronto in 1943, the legendary songwriter had roots in the Mohawk community at the Six Nations Reserve and the Jewish enclave of the city’s downtown. He began playing guitar at the age of 10, and in 1960 at the age of 16, he joined drummer Levon Helm in the Hawks, the backing band for rockabilly musician Ronnie Hawkins. The Hawks lineup eventually include future members of The Band Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson.
In 1965 and 1956, The Hawks joinedBob Dylanon his legendary “Going Electric” tours. Relocating to Woodstock in 1967, Robertson and his bandmates recorded their hallmark “basement tapes” with Dylan before becoming The Band and releasing their seminal albumMusic from Big Pinkin 1968, which featured the Robertson-composed classic “The Weight.”
Just one year later, The Band shared their eponymous album, which featured Robertson-penned classics “Up on Cripple Creek” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”
The Band released albums annually the next several years withStage Fright(1970),Cahoots(1971) with “Life Is a Carnival,” and the double live setRock Of Ages(1972). In 1973, the rock group famously performed before the largest rock concert audience in history (an estimated 650,000 people) at the Watkins Glen Festival in New York.
Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson in 1976.Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
After backing Dylan onPlanet Waves,The Band released their recordMoondog Matineein 1974 and backed Dylan on his reunion tour and led to the collaborationBefore The Flood. The following year, The Band released their 1975 albumNorthern Lights - Southern Cross.
From left: Garth Hudson, Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel and Rick Danko of The Band.Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns
Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns
The Band’s seventh and final studio album with Robertson —Islands— was shared in 1977. Robertson went onto produceNeil Diamond’sLove at the Greeklive album after working on Diamond’sBeautiful Noisethe year prior.
The Band musician’s fascination with film evolved into a significant part of his career, co-writing, producing, appeared in and composing the source music forCarny(1979). He also created and produced music for Scorsese’sRaging Bull(1980),King of Comedy(1983), andThe Color Of Money(1986), which included “It’s In The Way That You Use It,” co-written with Clapton. Robertson also served as a creative consultant on Taylor Hackford’s ode to Chuck Berry,Hail, Hail Rock & Roll.
In 1987, Robertson released his Grammy-nominated, self-titled solo album debut, which featured guests Peter Gabriel and U2 and the track “Somewhere Down the Crazy River.” Robertson ended up reuniting with The Band for an awards ceremony performance when they were inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame.
Robbie Robertson in his recording studio during a 1987 Santa Monica.George Rose/Getty
George Rose/Getty
Four years later, Robertson shared his sophomore LPStoryville(1991), while his track “Broken Arrow” became a major hit forRod Stewart.
Robbie Robertson.Don Dixon
Don Dixon
Robertson released his fourth solo album in 1998 with the Grammy-nominatedContact from the Underworld of Redboy. Inspired the PBS documentaryRobbie Robertson: Making a Noise, itchronicled his journey back to the Six Nations Reservation, where his mother was born and raised and where Robertson first learned to play guitar.
Robbie Robertson at Walter Reade Theater in New York City in February 2020.Gary Gershoff/Getty
Gary Gershoff/Getty
Additionally, Robertson has scored, consulted for, produced or supervised music for films includingAmerican Beauty(1999),Any Given Sunday(1999)Gangs of New York(2002),The Departed(2006),Shutter Island(2009),The Wolf of Wall Street(2013), andSilence(2016).
Robertson teamed up with Clapton again for a large portion of his fifth solo album, 2011’sHow to Become Clairvoyant,along with Steve Winwood, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, and Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor.
Robbie Robertson in 2019.Astrid Stawiarz/Getty
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty
He released his memoir,Testimonyin 2016, and a documentary film based on the book titledOnce Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band, which premiered at 2019’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Three years later, the “Somewhere Down the Crazy River” musician shared his sixth solo studio albumSinematic. He also reunited with Scorsese on his original score forThe Irishman.
“Robbie Robertson was one of my closest friends, a constant in my life and my work. I could always go to him as a confidante. A collaborator. An advisor. I tried to be the same for him,” Scorsese said in a statement.
“Long before we ever met, his music played a central role in my life—me and millions and millions of other people all over this world. The Band’s music, and Robbie’s own later solo music, seemed to come from the deepest place at the heart of this continent, its traditions and tragedies and joys. It goes without saying that he was a giant, that his effect on the art form was profound and lasting. There’s never enough time with anyone you love. And I loved Robbie.”
When Robertson died, he was in the process of penning his follow-up memoir toTestimony, and had just finished scoring Scorsese’sKillers of The Flower MoonstarringLeonardo DiCaprioand Robert DeNiro. The film is due Oct 6.
source: people.com
