Renowned rock guitarist Robbie Robertson has passed away at the age of 80, as confirmed by multiple reports. Robertson, who notably worked as a guitarist and songwriter for The Band in the 1970s, died at his home in Los Angeles following a lengthy illness.
His manager, Jared Levine, released a statement stating that Robertson was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing. He leaves behind his wife Janet, ex-wife Dominique, her partner Nicholas, and children Alexandra, Sebastian, Delphine, and Delphine’s partner Kenny. He is also survived by his grandchildren Angelica, Donovan, Dominic, Gabriel, and Seraphina.
Born in Canada, Robertson was a high school dropout of mixed Jewish, Mohawk, and Cayuga heritage. He had an uncanny knack for impressing his elders and finding himself among the giants of the rock era. As a teenager, he began playing guitar and writing songs in bands.
Robertson and The Band started as supporting players for rockabilly star Ronnie Hawkins in the early 1960s. They were initially dubbed the Hawks but eventually came to be known as The Band. They began to earn recognition in the 1960s and ’70s, first by amplifying Dylan’s polarizing transition from folk artist to rock star and then by absorbing the works of Dylan and Dylan’s influences as they fashioned a new sound immersed in the American past.
The Band’s albums “Music from Big Pink” and “The Band”, released in the late 1960s, remain defining works in their discography. Their music has profoundly influenced a wide array of artists, leading to their induction into the Rock and Roll