Robbie Robertson, as lead guitarist and songwriter considered to be the pivotal engineer of the quintessential Americana group—The Band—died August 9, 2023. News of his death at age 80 after a long illness was shared by his longtime manager, Jared Levine. With his passing, the sole remaining member of the Canadian-American quintet is keyboardist Garth Hudson, who turned 86 on Aug 2. Robertson was predeceased by Levon Helm (2012), Rick Danko (1999) and Richard Manuel (1986).
The statement announcing Robertson‘s death reads, “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 14th 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 the building of their new cultural center.”
Robertson, who turned 80 on July 5, had spearheaded a 2019 documentary, Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band, which follows him from his early life in Toronto and on the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve, in Southern Ontario, as he became an adept guitarist and songwriter. It follows his path as he joined drummer Helm, and then keyboardists Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel, and bass guitarist Rick Danko, as the touring musicians for singer Ronnie Hawkins; then as the backing band for Bob Dylan in 1965 and 1966. That set the stage for the five “brothers” to band together in their own group.
Influential manager Albert Grossman had seen Elliott Landy’s photos of another one of his clients, Janis Joplin, and, trusting his instincts, offered Landy an assignment to “take some pictures in Toronto.”
“Of who?” Landy asked.
“They don’t have a name yet,” was Grossman’s reply.
On the day that Robertson died, Landy wrote, in tribute: I am deeply grateful to Robbie and the other members of The Band for their foresight in recognizing the promise that I had as a young photographer and giving me the opportunity to photograph them for Music From Big Pink—the first record album I took photos for. This is a deeply personal loss. Even though I had not worked with him since those years, the connection between his work and mine remains a very important part of my life.
My condolences to his family
With love and respect.
– Elliott Landy
On Aug. 11, Bob Dylan released a brief statement: “This is shocking news. Robbie was a lifelong friend. His passing leaves a vacancy in the world.”
Other Robbie Robertson tributes…
Always kind and generous. Rest in peace, Robbie Robertson. @r0bbier0berts0n pic.twitter.com/5jh36cPfVQ
— Stephen Stills (@Stephen__Stills) August 9, 2023
Rest in peace Robbie Robertson, legendary lead guitarist of The Band, fellow Canadian, and cherished collaborator of Joni’s. May his legacy and musical harmony resonate for generations to come.
Photo from the Michael Ochs Archives pic.twitter.com/1rdu7tihjS
— Joni Mitchell (@jonimitchell) August 9, 2023
Such sad news about Robbie Robertson – he was a lovely man, a great friend and will be dearly missed xx R
Photographs from The Last Waltz pic.twitter.com/I7IHXGJyYj
— Ronnie Wood (@ronniewood) August 9, 2023
RIP Robbie xxhttps://t.co/I1ZE976vGm pic.twitter.com/C3sQRSldYL
— Eric Clapton (@EricClapton) August 11, 2023
Noted music author Robert Hilburn was one of the first to pay tribute to Robertson. “The news of Robbie Robertson’s death today at the age of 80 is stunning. From his days with the Band and Dylan on, he seemed so youthful, sharp and alert, always looking forward to something. Such great songs: The Weight, Dixie Down. Classic rock figure.”
The music world lost a great one with the passing of Robbie Robertson. Keep making that Beautiful Noise in the sky, Robbie. I’ll miss you.
— Neil Diamond (@NeilDiamond) August 9, 2023
Bruce Hornsby gave a lengthy tribute writing, in part, “Robbie Robertson was a titanic figure in my life. The Band was a huge and soulful influence in my world from eleventh grade on, and his songwriting resonated so strongly and will forever. I feel that The Band collectively invented an entire style of music that continues to flower to this day.”
Randy Bachman shared an inside story.
I first met Robbie Robertson at Le coq D’or in Toronto in 1964 when The Guess Who was just taking off with “Shakin’ All Over.” He played so incredibly that I took the opportunity to ask him how. He said the secret was to buy a set of Gretsch Strings and put them on his… pic.twitter.com/yNMyPCubST
— Randy Bachman (@RandysVinylTap) August 10, 2023
Keifer Sutherland wrote, “The loss of Robbie Robertson is heartbreaking. Canada has lost an icon, and music has lost a poet and a scholar.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also paid tribute to a native son. “Guitarist. Songwriter. Storyteller. Robbie Robertson was a big part of Canada’s outsized contributions to the arts. I’m thinking of his family, friends, and fans who are mourning his loss. Thank you for the music and the memories, Robbie.”
Scorsese released a statement honoring his longtime collaborator. “I could always go to him as a confidante. A collaborator. An advisor. I tried to be the same for him.
“Long before we ever met, his music played a central role in my life — me and millions and millions of other people all over this world. The Band’s music, and Robbie’s own later solo music, seemed to come from the deepest place at the heart of this continent, its traditions and tragedies and joys. It goes without saying that he was a giant, that his effect on the art form was profound and lasting. There’s never enough time with anyone you love. And I loved Robbie.”
Along with his legions of fans friends and family, I personally mourn the sudden passing of Robbie Robertson🙏🏽. I grew aquatinted with him through my association with the late Jesse “Ed” Davis during our years of recording & touring in the late 60s! pic.twitter.com/0GEfdeXRW3
— Taj Mahal (@tajmahalblues) August 11, 2023
Born Jaime Royal Robertson on July 5, 1943, in Toronto, the musician known as Robbie Robertson began playing guitar as a child and joined the band Little Caesar and the Consuls while in his teens. In 1957, he formed Robbie and the Rhythm Chords, which became Robbie and the Robots. He joined Hawkins’ outfit first as bassist, then switched to lead guitar. By 1961, the other future members of the Band had all joined with Hawkins, with whom they toured in 1962-63, also recording with that lineup for Roulette Records.
The five musicians left Hawkins in 1964 to go out on their own, changing their name to Levon and the Hawks, performing gigs in the U.S. while recording with blues artist John Hammond and others. In the summer of 1965, Robertson was sought as a member of Bob Dylan’s backing band by the singer-songwriter’s manager Albert Grossman. The guitarist, and drummer Helm, performed a couple of live dates with Dylan, who later hired the entire Levon and the Hawks group as his backing band from October-December 1965 and again in early 1966. The spring European leg of the tour was filmed by documentarian D.A. Pennebaker, but the result was unreleased. Robertson also recorded with Dylan on the Blonde on Blonde album, released in 1966.
In July 1966, Dylan was involved in a near fatal motorcycle accident in the Woodstock, N.Y., area, and withdrew from the public eye, living in a house that came to be known as Big Pink. Starting in 1967, he and the Hawks rehearsed and recorded in the basement of the house, the results later to be released, first on bootlegs and eventually legitimately, as The Basement Tapes. (Helm, who had left the group for a while, had returned by this time.)
Taking on the name The Band, the quintet recorded its second album, a self-titled affair, in 1969, including such rock staples as “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and “Up on Cripple Creek.” The Band performed at Woodstock that summer and continued touring and making albums until 1976, when they decided to call it quits. The Band went out in a blaze of glory, assembling an all-star cast for a show at San Francisco’s Winterland that was dubbed The Last Waltz. The same-titled Martin Scorsese documentary of the event is considered one of the best rock concert films of all time.
Robertson refused all offers to join the other former members of The Band in reunion projects, opting for a solo career instead. He released his self-titled debut solo album in 1987, followed by several others, the last being 2019’s Sinematic. He was also heavily involved in composing film music, working on more than two dozen soundtracks, many with Scorsese.
He also produced music for others during his career, including Neil Diamond, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison.
Related: Musicians we’ve lost in 2023
5 Comments
OMG! Saw tagline as tribute to Robbie, thinking it was tribute concert, not even thinking he had died! What a shock and gut punch! So sad for his family, fans including me!! speechless @ moment! hard to let people we love and admire leave! sad sad sad shocked sad!
What an inspiring musician, artist and human.
A sad loss.
I never ran so fast and looked so forward to buying The Band vinyl albums. I played them over and over with such continued enjoyment and surprise the very first time I heard them. Sad that the Band broke up. Sadder that one by one, they passed away. They’re together in heaven jamming to beautiful music. Rest In Peace, Robbie. They’ll never be another Band.
Spent an evening/morning with Levon in his suite at a Santa Monica hotel many years ago. My band mates and Levon and his wife played till the wee hours and talked about Robbie. The two of them were magic together. Sweet dreams Robbie.
Thanks for all the great music Robbie. RIP