Robbie Robertson, the famed rock guitarist and the frontman and founding member of The Band, has passed away at the age of 80. The news was confirmed by multiple reports, stating that the musician died in his Los Angeles home after a long illness.
Robertson’s manager of over three decades, Jared Levine, released a statement to Variety and Rolling Stone. It revealed that Robertson was surrounded by his wife, Janet, his ex-wife, Dominique, her partner Nicholas, and his children Alexandra, Sebastian, Delphine, and Delphine’s partner Kenny at the time of his death. He also leaves behind grandchildren Angelica, Donovan, Dominic, Gabriel, and Seraphina. Robertson had recently completed his fourteenth film music project with longtime collaborator Martin Scorsese, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” The family has requested donations to be made to the Six Nations of the Grand River in lieu of flowers to support a new Woodland Cultural Center.
Born in Canada, Robertson is best known for his guitar work and songwriting with The Band in the 1970s. His life was marked by interactions with many of the rock era’s giants, from Buddy Holly and Aretha Franklin to the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.
The Band, initially known as the Hawks, began as supporting players for rockabilly star Ronnie Hawkins in the early 1960s. They gained prominence as Bob Dylan’s backing group before achieving their own stardom, revolutionizing popular music in the 1960s and ’70s. Their first two albums, “Music from Big Pink” and “The Band,” remain iconic.
Over the years, Robertson had a successful career as a solo artist and soundtrack composer. He closely collaborated with Scorsese, overseeing soundtracks for films like “The Color of Money,” “The King of Comedy,” “The Departed,” and “The Irishman.” Despite personal conflicts within The Band, their influence on Americana or roots music remains pivotal.
Robertson is survived by his wife, ex-wife, children, and grandchildren.