Robbie Robertson, the guitarist and main songwriter in The Band, the Canadian-American group known for songs including “The Weight” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” has died at the age of 80, his manager said on Wednesday.
Robertson, who left his Toronto home at age 16 to pursue his rock’n’roll dreams, died Wednesday in Los Angeles after a long illness, Robertson’s manager of 34 years, Jared Levine, said in a statement.
“Robbie was surrounded by his family at the time of his death,” the statement added.
The Band included four Canadians – Robertson, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel – and was anchored by an Arkansas drummer, Levon Helm. Originally dubbed The Hawks as the backing band for rockabilly wild man Ronnie Hawkins, they gained attention supporting Bob Dylan on his “Going Electric” tours of 1965-1966.
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Article URL : https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/robbie-robertson-who-led-canadian-american-group-band-dies-80-variety-2023-08-09/