Photo: Luis Sinco
Robbie Robertson, frontman for The Band, has died aged 80.
The singer, songwriter and musician, who wrote songs such as The Weight, Up On Cripple Creek, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down passed away on Wednesday (August 9). The news was confirmed with a statement from Robertson's management, posted to social media:
"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 Centre."
Born in Toronto on July 5, 1943, Robertson went on to perform alongside Bob Dylan, contributing to his 1966 double album 'Blonde On Blonde', and convincing the legendary artist to enlist other members of his group to play as Dylan's backing band, The Hawks.
In 1968, they left Dylan and dubbed themselves The Band, releasing their debut LP, 'Music From Big Pink', that same year and becoming highly influential during the '60s and '70s. They also played at Woodstock in 1969.
Burnt out after years of touring and struggles with substance abuse among other members of the group, The Band played a huge farewell concert in San Francisco in 1976, featuring special guests Dylan, Neil Young and Muddy Waters. Footage from the show was released in 1978 as a concert film titled The Last Waltz, which was directed by Martin Scorsese.
Robertson never returned to touring after The Last Waltz, though he put out five solo records, beginning with a 1987 self-titled LP. His most recent was 2019's 'Sinematic'.
Having formed a tight bond with Scorsese during the filming of The Last Waltz, Robertson went on to oversee the music for the director's films Silence, The Irishman, and the upcoming Killers Of The Flower Moon.
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