Robbie Robertson, Leader of The Band, Dies at 80
Robbie Robertson, Leader of The Band, Dies at 80
Guitarist-songwriter-singer Robbie Robertson, who led the Canadian-American group the Band to rock prominence in the 1970s and worked extensively with Bob Dylan and Martin Scorsese, has died. He wa…
Guitarist-songwriter-singer Robbie Robertson, who led the Canadian-American group the Band to rock prominence in the 1970s and worked extensively with Bob Dylan and Martin Scorsese, has died. He was 80.
According to an announcement from his management, Robertson died Wednesday in Los Angeles after a long illness.
In a statement, Robertson’s manager of 34 years, Jared Levine, said “Robbie was surrounded by his family at the time of his death, 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 completed his fourteenth film music project with frequent collaborator Martin Scorsese, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon.’ In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Six Nations of the Grand River to support a new Woodland Cultural Center.”
After the Band’s 1976 farewell concert “The Last Waltz” was captured on film by Scorsese, Robertson worked with the director as composer, music supervisor, and music producer starting in 1980 on films including “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 “Flower Moon.”
However, he is best known for the classic songs he wrote for the Band, including “The Weight,” “Up On Cripple Creek,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “The Shape I’m In” and “It Makes No Difference.” His story with The Band was captured in the 2019 documentary “Once Were Brothers.“
Which band?
The band. They sound like A Band but go a little harder, but not nearly as hard as That Band.
I fear for a generation that has no idea who The Band was and how they changed music history.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/robbie-robertson-dead-the-band-1234803234/
The Band is the band that band leader Robbie Robertsen led.
I highly suggest watching “The Last Waltz” directed by Scorsese. It has a serious list of guest appearances and is obviously a well done film documenting the last performance by The Band
Not to mention he was an outstanding guitar player. Those original Band albums and the records with Dylan wouldn't be nearly as good without Robertson's strat.
Damn. I just had a convo with my mother about this group. They were busy in the 70s and 80s. They opened for a lot of groups and said yes to a lot of collabs.
Sad to hear he died. RIP
Why are they such a big deal? I like a few of the songs from them but don't understand the hype. Sad to hear of his passing nonetheless.
They were very popular in their time and were influential to other bands that came later like The Grateful Dead
Thanks, as a head I could tolerate them but wouldn't go out of my way to listen. I got the idea there was something really special about them that I was missing.
Other people like more of their songs
Try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_gblCF1Jx0 If you don't like it they're just not for you. Cheers.
I do like this song and cripple creek.