The guitarist and one of the founders of The Band Robbie Robertson passed away this Wednesday at the age of 80, in Los Angeles. In addition to being the main songwriter for the Canadian band, Robertson has collaborated on several occasions with Martin Scorsese.
According to a statement posted on the artist’s official Instagram page, “Robbie was surrounded by family at the time of his death.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Robbie Robertson (@robbierobertsonofficial)
“Robertson recently completed his 14th musical project with frequent collaborator Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Six Nations of the Grand River to support a new Cultural Center in Woodland “, the publication reads.
Born in Toronto on July 5, 1943, Robertson learned music on his mother’s side of the family, who lived on the Grand River Six Nations reservation.
His manager, Jared Levine, only adds, according to The New York Times, that the composer died after fighting a “long illness.”
While still a teenager, he joined the Hawks, where he met the musicians Bob Dylan would recruit as a backing band, including guitarist Robbie Robertson, drummer Levon Helm, bassist Rick Danko, pianist Richard Manuel, and organist Garth Hudson.
Renamed “The Band”, the group, which was born in the 1960s, released its debut album Music from Big Pink, which contains hits such as The Weight, Up on Cripple Creek and I Shall Be Released.
Their impact was such that, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, they collaborated with Dylan again and accompanied him at famous festivals, such as Woodstock, which placed them among the elite of North American rock.
However, the dependency problems of various members of the group meant that, in the middle of that decade, the band had serious internal problems.
The band’s last concert featured musicians like Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr.
Robbie Robertson left the group in 1976, later embarking on a solo career, giving life to songs like Somewhere Down The Crazy River, Shine Your Light and Peyote Healing.
The artist also cultivated a creative relationship with Scorsese, having collaborated musically with the filmmaker on such films as The Wolf of Wall Street, Raging Bull and, most recently, The Irishman.
Robbie Robertson also dedicated the last years of his life to writing memoirs, painting and reissuing The Band’s catalogue.
Source: TSF
