As you likely know, The Band's co- founder, lead guitarist and main songwriter Robbie Robertson passed away this past Wednesday at the age of 80. After serving as Bob Dylan's backup band (as The Hawks), the group changed their name to The Band and emerged as a musical force in the late 1960s through mid- 1970s, mixing their own distinct and timeless songwriting with traditional music, and continuing collaborations with Dylan. Canadian- born Robertson contributed such classics to 20th Century American music as "Up On Cripple Creek," "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," and one of our selections today, their signature song (written by Robertson), "The Weight." (You should also check out this version of "The Weight" with global musicians led by Robertson in 2019 -- stunning.) We're also including one of their Dylan interpretations, "I Shall Be Released," with Richard Manuel's haunting vocal (keyboardist Garth Hudson, who turned 86 on August 2, is the sole surviving member of The Band). The great Martin Scorcese film "The Last Waltz" documents their final performance, and is a must- see for any music fan.
An interesting biographical tidbit many may not know about Robertson:
Before he was Robbie Robertson, the future rock star was born Jaime Royal Robertson, the son of a Mohawk mother who was raised on the Six Nations reserve in Ontario. He learned later in life that his biological father, Alexander Klegerman, was a Jewish member of the Toronto underworld who was known for his gambling.
All the great ones are departing this mortal coil, one after another. RIP.
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