Posted on 08/09/2023 1:11:09 PM PDT by Chode
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.”
Their second album (“the brown album”) is their studio masterpiece, imo, with Big Pink a close second. Stage Fright up there too. And Rock of Ages is one of the best live albums ever. After that they faded.
the golden age...
The last time the song was performed by Helm was in The Last Waltz. Helm refused to play the song afterwards. Although it has long been believed that the reason for Helm's refusal to play the song was a dispute with Robertson over songwriting credits, according to Garth Hudson the refusal was due to Helm's dislike for Joan Baez's version.
One of his most beautiful songs...
“All La Glory”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq8yiyYRQcg
Rest in peace, Robbie.
A lot of them were based on conversations with Levon Helm. Which kinda bugged Levon. Robbie was Canadian, all that “heartland of America” stuff was from Levon’s life.
amen...
Is it good or bad to get to 80 and still be known by your nickname?
But I guess this is the Last Waltz for real.
RIP
I’m currently sitting on a client site in Helena, AR. (I lived here from 1980-1987) and I’m looking at HWY 49 (Levon Helm Memorial Highway) which takes you west to Marvell, AR.
I actually go to Marvell every fall for a Demolition Derby (spectator only).
cool
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