Legendary Musician and Film Composer, Robbie Robertson, Passes Away at Age 80

Robbie Robertson, Leader of The Band and Renowned Cinematic Composer, Passes Away at 80

Robbie Robertson, the leader of The Band and a renowned cinematic composer, has passed away at the age of 80 after a long illness. His management company confirmed the news, stating that he was surrounded by his family at the time of his death in Los Angeles, California.

Robertson is survived by his wife, Janet, his ex-wife, Dominique, and their children Alexandra, Sebastian, Delphine, and Delphine's partner Kenny. He is also survived by his grandchildren Angelica, Donovan, Dominic, Gabriel, and Seraphina.

Robertson's manager, Jared Levine, expressed his condolences and highlighted Robertson's significant contributions to the music and film industry.

Renowned Guitarist and Singer-Songwriter

Robbie Robertson, born on July 5, 1943, is a renowned guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is best known for his work with the band The Band, where he wrote several hits including "The Weight," "Up On Cripple Creek," and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." Robertson has been nominated for a Grammy award for his musical contributions.

Robertson, a Canadian musician, started playing guitar at a young age and joined various bands during his teenage years. In 1961, he became a member of Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks, an American rockabilly group. It was during this time that Robertson met future members of The Band, including Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson.

The Band's History and Success

The article discusses the history of the musical group known as The Band. It mentions that the group initially toured and recorded with musician Ronnie Hawkins until the mid-1960s. However, most of the members, except for Levon Helm, left to join Bob Dylan's "Going Electric" tours in 1965 and 1966. The following year, guitarist Robbie Robertson moved to Woodstock, New York, and recorded the "basement tapes" with Dylan. It was during this time that they officially became known as The Band.

The Band, known for their "basement tapes," signed with Capitol Records and released their first two albums, "Music From Big Pink" and "The Band." They also performed at Woodstock in 1969. The group went on to release "Stage Fright" in 1970, "Cahoots" in 1971 (featuring the hit "Life Is A Carnival"), and the double live set "Rock Of Ages" in 1972.

Contributions to American Music and Film

In an interview, musician Robbie Robertson discusses the origins of American music, stating that he believes it was born from a combination of blues and country music, particularly in the Mississippi Delta area. He suggests that the music originated from the meeting of different musical influences along the river, resulting in something new and unique.

The Band, a popular music group in the 1970s, achieved great success but eventually broke up due to reported substance abuse issues among some of the members. In 1976, they performed their farewell show called "The Last Waltz" in San Francisco. The concert featured guest performances from renowned musicians such as Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, and more.

The article discusses the performance of musician Robbie Robertson, which was turned into a documentary called "The Last Waltz" and directed by Martin Scorsese. The documentary is highly regarded as one of the best concert films ever made. Following their collaboration, Robertson went on to work as a composer for several of Scorsese's films, including "Raging Bull," "The Departed," "The Wolf of Wall Street," and "The Irishman."

Tribute and Legacy

Martin Scorsese, the renowned filmmaker, expressed his deep sadness over the passing of Robbie Robertson, a musician and his close friend. Scorsese and Robertson had recently finished working on their fourteenth film music project, titled "Killers of the Flower Moon." In a statement to NBC News, Scorsese praised Robertson's music, stating that it had played a significant role in his life and the lives of millions of others around the world. He described The Band's music, as well as Robertson's later solo work, as emanating from the core of North America's traditions, tragedies, and joys.

This news article provides information about the career and background of a musician named Robertson. In 1987, he released his first self-titled solo album, and four years later, his second solo album titled "Storyville" earned him two Grammy nominations. Robertson was born on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada, and belonged to the Mohawk community.

In his memory, Robertson's family has requested donations to be made to the Six Nations of the Grand River for the establishment of a new Woodland Cultural Center, instead of sending flowers.