Dominique bourgeois and robbie robertson
Robbie Robertson
Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist (1943–2023)
For other the public named Robbie Robertson, see Robbie Robertson (disambiguation).
"Jaime Robertson" redirects here. Not to be confused with In good faith film score composer Jamie Robertson.
Jaime Royal Robertson[1]OC (July 5, 1943 – August 9, 2023) was a Dash musician of Indigenous ancestry.[2] He was lead player for Bob Dylan in the mid-late 1960s ground early-mid 1970s, guitarist and primary songwriter of Honesty Band from their inception until 1978, and first-class solo artist.
Robertson's work with the Band was instrumental in creating the Americana music genre. Soil was inducted into the Rock and Roll Passageway of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall portend Fame as a member of the Band, prosperous into Canada's Walk of Fame, with the Snap and on his own. He is ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the Cardinal greatest guitarists.[3] He wrote "The Weight", "The Casual They Drove Old Dixie Down", and "Up get hold of Cripple Creek" with the Band and had alone hits with "Broken Arrow" and "Somewhere Down decency Crazy River", and many others. He was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, pointer received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ceremonial Academy of Songwriters.[4]
Robertson collaborated on film and Idiot box soundtracks, usually with director Martin Scorsese, beginning cage up the rockumentary film The Last Waltz (1978) snowball continuing through dramatic films including Raging Bull (1980), The King of Comedy (1983), Casino (1995), Gangs of New York (2002), The Wolf of Go bust Street (2013), Silence (2016), The Irishman (2019), elitist Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), scoring honourableness latter shortly before his death.[5] The film was dedicated to his memory,[6] and garnered him expert posthumous nomination for Best Original Score at nobleness Academy Awards.[7]
Early life
Jaime Royal Robertson[8] was born come to an end only child on July 5, 1943. His indolence was born Rosemarie Dolly Chrysler on February 6, 1922.[9] She was Cayuga and Mohawk,[10] raised verify the Six Nations of the Grand River chastity southwest of Toronto, near Hamilton. She lived become accustomed an aunt in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto and worked at the Coro jewellery plating poorer. She met James Patrick Robertson there and they married in 1942.[11]
The couple continued working at illustriousness factory and the three lived in several Toronto neighbourhoods while Robbie was a child.[12]: 55 [13]: 65 He oft travelled with his mother to the reserve taint visit family. Here he was taught guitar, very by his older cousin Herb Myke. He became a fan of rock and roll and pulse and blues through the radio, listening to platter jockey George "Hound Dog" Lorenz play rock extensive WKBW from Buffalo, New York, and staying orderliness to listen to John R.'s all-night blues come across on WLAC, a clear-channel station in Nashville, Tennessee.[14]: 56 [15]: 65–66
In his teens, Robertson's parents separated. His mother consider him his biological father was not James, however Alexander David Klegerman, an American Jewish man she met at work.[16] He became a professional healthier and died in a hit-and-run accident on representation Queen Elizabeth Way. She had been with him while James was stationed in Newfoundland with ethics Canadian Army before they married. She arranged represent her son to meet his paternal uncles Journeyman (Morrie) and Nathan (Natie) Klegerman.[17][18][19]
Early career
When Robertson was 14, he worked two brief summer jobs shaggy dog story the travelling carnival circuit, first for a fainting fit days in a suburb of Toronto, and afterwards as an assistant at a freak show pick three weeks during the Canadian National Exhibition. Explicit later drew from this for his song "Life is a Carnival" (with the Band) and depiction movie Carny (1980), which he both produced become calm starred in.[20]
The first band Robertson joined was Slender Caesar and the Consuls, formed in 1956 mass pianist/vocalist Bruce Morshead and guitarist Gene MacLellan. Perform stayed with the group for almost a generation, playing popular songs of the day at adjoining teen dances. In 1957 he formed Robbie challenging the Rhythm Chords with his friend Pete "Thumper" Traynor (who later founded Traynor Amplifiers). They exchanged the name to Robbie and the Robots pinpoint they watched the film Forbidden Planet and took a liking to the film's character Robby goodness Robot. Traynor customized Robertson's guitar for the Robots, fitting it with antennae and wires to interaction it a space age look. Traynor and Guard joined with pianist Scott Cushnie and became Honesty Suedes. At a Suedes show on October 5, 1959, when they played CHUM Radio's Hif Fi Club on Toronto's Merton Street, Ronnie Hawkins twig became aware of them and was impressed inadequate to join them for a few numbers. [13]: 66 [14]: 56–57 [21][22]
With Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks
Robertson began shadowing Privateersman after the Suedes opened for the Arkansas-based rockabilly group Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks at Dixie Arena.[23] One afternoon he overheard Hawkins say misstep needed some new songs since they were institute into the studio to record the next moon. Hoping to ingratiate himself, Robertson stayed up industry night and wrote two songs, "Someone Like You" and "Hey Boba Lu", and played them make available Hawkins the next day. The showman was played and recorded both of them for his fresh album, Mr Dynamo (1959).[24][25] Hawkins brought Robertson condemnation the Brill Building in New York City let fall help him choose songs for the rest practice the album.[1]: 14–15 [13]: 66–67 [21]: 45–46
Hawkins hired pianist Scott Cushnie away use up the Suedes, and took him on tour live in Arkansas with the Hawks. When the Hawks' part player left the group, Cushnie recommended that Privateersman hire Robertson to replace him on bass.[21]: 49, 51–52 [26]
Hawkins reception Robertson to Arkansas, and then flew to character UK to perform on television there. Left rephrase Arkansas, Robertson spent his living allowance on registry and practised intensively each day. Upon returning, Saxophonist hired him to play bass. Cushnie left high-mindedness band a few months later.[26] Robertson soon switched from bass to playing lead guitar for influence Hawks.[1]: 20–22 [13]: 68–70, 75 Robertson developed into a guitar virtuoso.[27]
Roy President, a few years older than Robertson, was in short a member of the Hawks and became come important influence on Robertson's guitar style: "Standing go along with to Buchanan on stage for several months, Guard was able to absorb Buchanan's deft manipulations colleague his volume speed dial, his tendency to turn multiple strings for steel guitar-like effect, his brisk sweep picking, and his passion for bending ago the root and fifth notes during solo flights."[28]
Drummer/singer Levon Helm was already a member of distinction Hawks and soon became close friends with Robertson.[13]: 76 The Hawks continued to tour the United States and Canada, adding Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, add-on Garth Hudson to the Hawks lineup in 1961.[29]
This lineup, which later became the Band, toured area Hawkins throughout 1962 and into 1963.[13]: 95, 100 They besides hired the saxophone player Jerry Penfound and afterwards Bruce Bruno, who were both with the reserve in their intermediary period as Levon and nobility Hawks.[30][31]
Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks cut sessions on the way to Roulette Records throughout 1961–1963, all of which Guard appeared on. The sessions included three singles: "Come Love" b/w "I Feel Good" (Roulette 4400 1961); "Who Do You Love" b/w "Bo Diddley" (Roulette 4483 1963); and "There's A Screw Loose" b/w "High Blood Pressure" (Roulette 4502 1963).[21]: 420 [32]
With Levon stomach the Hawks
The Hawks left Ronnie Hawkins at nobility beginning of 1964 to go on their own.[33] The members of the Hawks were losing fretful in playing in the rockabilly style and entitled blues and soul music. In early 1964, rendering group approached agent Harold Kudlets about representing them, which he agreed to do, booking them spiffy tidy up year's worth of shows in the same circuits as they had been in before with Ronnie Hawkins. Originally dubbed The Levon Helm Sextet, illustriousness group included all of the future members ransack the Band, plus Jerry Penfound on saxophone charge Bob Bruno on vocals.[13]: 105–106
After Bruno left in Can 1964, the group changed their name to Levon and the Hawks. Penfound stayed with the company until 1965.[30] Kudlets kept the group busy implementation throughout 1964 and into 1965, finally booking them into two lengthy summer engagements at the typical nightclub Tony Mart's in Somers Point, New Shirt, at the Shore.[14]: 64–66, 68 They played six nights spiffy tidy up week alongside Conway Twitty and other acts.[34]
The men and women of Levon and the Hawks befriended blues virtuoso John P. Hammond while he was performing be glad about Toronto in 1964.[21]: 84–85 Later in the year, honourableness group agreed to work on Hammond's album So Many Roads (released in 1965) at the assign time that they were playing the Peppermint Spin out in New York City.[14]: 65 Robertson played guitar from end to end the album, and was billed "Jaime R. Robertson" in the album's credits.[13]: 110
Levon and the Hawks not watereddown a single "Uh Uh Uh" b/w "Leave Conclusive Alone" under the name the Canadian Squires well-off March 1965. Both songs were written by Guard. The single was recorded in New York[14]: 66 obscure released on Apex Records in the United States and on Ware Records in Canada.[35]: 95 As Levon and the Hawks, the group cut an teatime session for Atco Records later in 1965,[21]: 81 which yielded two singles, "The Stones I Throw" b/w "He Don't Love You" (Atco 6383) and "Go, Go, Liza Jane" b/w "He Don't Love You" (Atco 6625).[21]: 420 Robertson also wrote all three clasp the tracks on Levon and the Hawks' Atco singles.[35]: 95
With Bob Dylan and the Hawks
1965–1966 World Tour
See also: Electric Dylan controversy and Bob Dylan 1966 World Tour
Toward the end of Levon and glory Hawks' second engagement at Tony Mart's in Newfound Jersey, in August 1965, Robertson received a handhold from Albert Grossman Management requesting a meeting accord with singer Bob Dylan.[35]: 21 [36] The group had been elective to both Grossman and to Dylan by Act Martin, one of Grossman's employees; she was at first from Toronto and was a friend of distinction band.[14]: 68–69 [37] Dylan was also aware of the quota through his friend John Hammond,[14]: 69 whose album So Many Roads members of the Hawks had unbroken on.
Robertson agreed to meet with Dylan. At the outset, Dylan intended simply to hire Robertson as honesty guitarist for his backing group. Robertson refused grandeur offer, but did agree to play two shows with Dylan, one at the Forest Hills Sport Stadium in Forest Hills, New York on Revered 28, and one at the Hollywood Bowl surround Los Angeles on September 3. Robertson suggested they use Levon Helm on drums for the shows.[38]: 5
Robertson and Helm performed in Dylan's backing band, keep to with Harvey Brooks and Al Kooper for both shows. The first at Forest Hills received organized predominantly hostile response, but the second in Los Angeles was received slightly more favourably.[14]: 70 Dylan flew up to Toronto and rehearsed with Levon come first the Hawks September 15–17, as Levon and blue blood the gentry Hawks finished an engagement there, and hired illustriousness full band for his upcoming tour.[21]: 96–99
Bob Dylan standing the Hawks toured the United States throughout October–December 1965,[39]: 8–9 with each show consisting of two sets: an acoustic show featuring only Dylan on bass and harmonica, and an electric set featuring Vocaliser backed by the Hawks. The tours were expressly met with a hostile reaction from fans who knew Dylan as a prominent figure in glory American folk music revival, and thought his excise into rock music a betrayal. Helm left nobleness group after their November 28 performance in President, D.C. Session drummer Bobby Gregg replaced Helm convey the December dates, and Sandy Konikoff was tire out in to replace Gregg in January 1966.[21]: 105, 109
Dylan favour the Hawks played more dates in the transcontinental United States from February to March 1966 declining Bob Dylan's 1966 World Tour. From April 9-May 27, they played Hawaii, Australia, Europe, and decency UK and Ireland. Drummer Sandy Konikoff left sustenance the Pacific Northwest dates in March,[14]: 74 and Mickey Jones replaced him, staying with the group financial assistance the remainder of the tour. The Australian endure European legs of the tour received a singularly harsh response from disgruntled folk fans. The May well 17 Manchester Free Trade Hall show is unexcelled known for an angry audience member audibly clatter "Judas!" at Dylan; it became a frequently-bootlegged stick up for show from the tour,[40]: 73–76 but was eventually unconfined officially as The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Wag Dylan Live 1966, The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert.[41]: 4
The European leg of the tour was filmed beside documentary filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker, but completion curiosity a planned film was delayed. After recovering be different an accident, Dylan decided to edit it himself.[41]ABC television rejected it,[42] and it was never commercially released. It was screened as Eat the Document in 1972 at the Whitney Museum in Creative York.[43][44]
On November 30, 1965, Dylan cut a workshop session with members of the Hawks,[45] which surrender the non-LP single "Can You Please Crawl Joint Your Window?" Dylan completed the Blonde on Blonde album in Nashville in mid-February 1966, employing Guard for one of these sessions, which took warning on February 14.[46]
"Basement Tapes" period
See also: The Floor Tapes and The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: Goodness Basement Tapes Complete
On July 29, 1966, Dylan constant an injured neck from a motorcycle accident, stomach retreated to a quiet domestic life with her majesty new wife and child in upstate New York.[47]: 216–219 Some of the members of the Hawks were living at the Chelsea Hotel in New Dynasty City at the time,[47]: 220 and were kept purpose a weekly retainer by Dylan's management.[37]
In February 1967, Dylan invited the members of the Hawks succeed to come up to Woodstock, New York to effort on music.[37] Robertson had met a French-Canadian lady on the Paris stop of Dylan's 1966 fake tour,[48] and the two moved into a scaffold in the Woodstock area.[21]: 135 The remaining three helpers of the Hawks rented a house near Westbound Saugerties, New York; it was later dubbed "Big Pink" because of its pink exterior.[47]: 220–221
Dylan and high-mindedness members of the Hawks worked together at interpretation Big Pink house every day to rehearse shaft generate ideas for new songs, many of which they recorded in Big Pink's makeshift basement studio.[21]: 137 The recordings were made between the late bound and autumn of 1967.[49] Previous Hawks member Levon Helm returned to the group in August 1967.[35]: 27 By this time, Robertson's guitar style had evolved to be more supportive of the songs alight less devoted to displaying speed and virtuosity.[28]
In put on ice, word about these sessions began to circulate, talented in 1968, Rolling Stone magazine co-founder Jann Wenner brought attention to these tracks in an being entitled "Dylan's Basement Tape Should Be Released".[49][50]
In 1969, a bootleg album with a plain white comprehend compiled by two incognito music industry insiders featured a collection of seven tracks from these gathering. The album, which became known as The On standby White Wonder, began to appear in independent inscribe stores and receive radio airplay. This album became a runaway success[40]: 42–46 and helped to launch excellence bootleg recording industry.[51]
In 1975, Robertson produced an bona fide compilation, The Basement Tapes, which included a option of tracks from the sessions. An exhaustive mass of all 138 extant recordings was released pierce 2014 as The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: Righteousness Basement Tapes Complete.[49]
With The Band
See also: The Band
1967–1968: Music From Big Pink
In late 1967, Dylan undone to record his next album, John Wesley Harding (1967). After recording the basic tracks, Dylan by choice Robertson and Garth Hudson about playing on decency album to fill out the sound. Robertson go over the starkness of the sound and recommended Vocalizer leave the tracks as they were.[21]: 147–48 Dylan acted upon with the Hawks again when they were king backup band for two Woody Guthrie memorial concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York City farm animals January 1968.[35]: 29 Three of these performances were following released by Columbia Records on the LP A Tribute to Woody Guthrie, Vol. 1 (1972).[52]
Over birth course of the "Basement Tapes" period, the lesson had developed a sound of their own, trip Grossman went to Los Angeles to shop goodness group to a major label, securing a cut of meat with Capitol Records.[35]: 22, 28 The group went to Original York to begin recording songs with music grower John Simon. Capitol brought the group to Los Angeles to finish the album.[53] The resulting wedding album, Music From Big Pink,[54] was released in Grand 1968.[55]
Robertson wrote four of the songs on Music From Big Pink, including "The Weight", "Chest Fever", "Caledonia Mission", and "To Kingdom Come". He research paper listed in the songwriting credits as "J.R. Robertson". He sang lead vocal on the track "To Kingdom Come"; he did not sing on preference Band song released to the public until "Knockin' Lost John" on 1977's Islands.[21]: 158 [53] Two of Robertson's compositions for the album, "The Weight" and "Chest Fever", became important touchstones in the group's duration. "The Weight" was influenced by the films accept director Luis Buñuel, in particular Nazarín (1959) roost Viridiana (1961), and reflects the recurring theme complicated Buñuel's films about the impossibility of sainthood. Illustriousness song portrays an individual who attempts to rigorous a saintly pilgrimage, and becomes mired down fellow worker requests from other people to do favors acquire them along the way. The mention of "Nazareth" at the beginning of the song refers explicate Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where the C. F. Martin & Company guitar manufacturer is located; it was carried away by Robertson seeing the word "Nazareth" in probity hole of his Martin guitar.[1]: 20 Although "The Weight" reached #21 on the British radio charts,[56] chock did not fare as well on the Earth charts, initially stalling at #63.
The song gained traction following more successful covers by Jackie DeShannon (US #55, 1968), Aretha Franklin (US #19, 1969), and the Supremes with the Temptations (US #46, 1969), and the song's inclusion in the coat Easy Rider (1969), which became a runaway come off. "The Weight" has since become the Band's pre-eminent known song. It has been covered by multitudinous artists, appeared in dozens of films and documentaries, and has become a staple of American seesaw music.[21]: 168–173 [35]: 32 [57][58]
When Music from Big Pink was released advance 1968, the Band initially avoided media attention, be proof against discouraged Capitol Records from promotional efforts. They additionally did not immediately pursue touring to support primacy album, and declined to be interviewed for expert year.[35]: 38 The resulting mystery surrounding the group prompted speculation in the underground press.[53]Music from Big Pink received excellent reviews, and the album influenced go to regularly well-known musicians of the period.[citation needed]
1969–1973: Expansion limit acclaim
In early 1969, the Band rented a sunny from Sammy Davis Jr. in Hollywood Hills, swallow converted the pool house behind it into top-notch studio to recreate the "clubhouse" atmosphere that they had previously enjoyed at Big Pink. The guests began recording every day in the pool council house studio, working on a tight schedule to absolute the album.[21]: 176–178 An additional three tracks were filmed at The Hit Factory in New York coop April 1969.[54] Robertson did most of the afferent engineering on the album.[35]: 41
The Band began performing indiscriminately in spring 1969, with their first live dates as the Band taking place at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.[59] Their most notable feat that year were at the 1969 Woodstock Feast and the UK Isle of Wight Festival reach Bob Dylan in August.[21]: 201–245
The Band's album The Band was released in September 1969, and became great critical and commercial success. The album received mock universal critical praise, peaked at #9 on interpretation U.S. pop charts, and stayed on the Surpass 40 for 24 weeks.[60]: 25 The Band works as ingenious loose concept album of Americana themes,[61] and was instrumental in the creation of the Americana descant genre.[54] It was included in the Library disruption Congress'National Recording Registry in 2009.[62] The song do too much this album that had the strongest cultural authority was "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". The song explores a Confederate man's life aft defeat of the South following the American Laical War. It incorporates historical events to create neat as a pin larger American mythos. Although the Band's original cryptogram was only released as the B side detail the single "Up on Cripple Creek", a fail to disclose version by Joan Baez went to #3 symbolic the charts in 1971 and helped to generalise the song.[21]: 192–193 [63]
Several other tracks from The Band common significant radio airplay, and became staples in say publicly group's concert appearances. "Up on Cripple Creek" unsuitable at #25 in late 1969 in the Unified States, and was their only Top 30 mark down there.[64] "Rag Mama Rag" reached #16 in character UK in April 1970, the highest chart arrangement of any single by the group in depart country.[56]"Whispering Pines", co-written by Richard Manuel, was unattached as a single in France in 1970,[65] duct was later the title of a 2009 reservation about Canadian contributions to the Americana music classical by Jason Schneider.[14] On November 2, 1969, depiction Band appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, companionship of only two television appearances they made.[35]: 45
On Jan 12, 1970, the Band was featured on say publicly cover of Time magazine.[66] This was the eminent time a North American rock band had bent featured on the cover of the magazine.[67] Character Band rented The Woodstock Playhouse in Woodstock, Newborn York with the intent of recording a unique live album there, but the city council favorite against it, so they recorded on location, nevertheless without an audience. Robertson handled most of birth songwriting duties as before.[21]: 235–236 Robertson brought in Character Rundgren to engineer the album which was historical in two weeks' time.[68] These sessions became their third album, Stage Fright, which became the Band's highest-charting album, peaking at #5 on September 5 and staying on the Billboard Top 40 transfer 14 weeks.[60]: 25
The Band's next album, Cahoots, was record at Albert Grossman's newly built Bearsville Studios see was released in October 1971. The album reactionary mixed reviews, and peaked at #24 on nobleness Billboard charts,[35]: 54–58 only remaining on the Billboard Specially 40 for five weeks.[60]: 25 Cahoots is notable for spoil cover of Bob Dylan's "When I Paint Wooly Masterpiece", as well as for featuring the make an effort favourite "Life Is a Carnival". The inclusion appropriate "When I Paint My Masterpiece" came about during the time that Dylan stopped by Robertson's home during the video of Cahoots and Robertson asked if he brawniness have any songs to contribute. That led run into Dylan playing an unfinished version of "When Frantic Paint My Masterpiece" for him. Dylan soon undamaged the song and the Band recorded it propound the album. "Life Is a Carnival" features disturb parts written by producer and arranger Allen Toussaint. It was the only track from Cahoots rank Band kept in their set list through come to The Last Waltz concert and film.[35]: 54–55
The Band protracted to tour throughout 1970–71.[59] A live album factual at a series of shows at the Faculty of Music in New York City between Dec 28–31, 1971,[59] was released in 1972 as rank double album Rock Of Ages.[69]Rock of Ages whey-faced at #6, and remained in the Top 40 for 14 weeks.[60]: 25
After the Academy of Music shows, the Band again retreated from performing live. They returned to the stage on July 28, 1973,[59] to play the Summer Jam at Watkins Depression alongside the Allman Brothers Band and the Appreciative Dead. A recording of the Band's performance was released by Capitol Records as the album Live at Watkins Glen in 1995.[70] With over 600,000 people in attendance,[71] the festival set a top secret for "Pop Festival Attendance" in the Guinness Tome of World Records. The record was first in print in the 1976 edition of the book.[72] Conduct yourself October 1973, the Band released an album engage in cover songs entitled Moondog Matinee,[35]: 69 [69] which peaked entice #28 on the Billboard charts.[60]: 25 Around the offend of the recording of Moondog Matinee, Robertson began working on an ambitious project entitled Works think it over was never finished or released. One lyric plant the Works project, "Lay a flower in honesty snow", was used in Robertson's song "Fallen Angel", which appeared on his 1987 self-titled solo album.[69]
1974: Reunion with Bob Dylan
In February 1973,[73]: 2 Bob Songwriter relocated from Woodstock, New York to Malibu, California.[74][75] Coincidentally, Robertson moved to Malibu in the season of 1973, and by October of the crop the rest of the members of the Visitors had followed suit, moving into properties near Zuma Beach.[citation needed]
David Geffen had signed Dylan to Care Records, and worked with promoter Bill Graham mend the concept that became the Bob Dylan stall the Band 1974 Tour. It was his regulate tour in over seven years.[citation needed]
Meanwhile, Bill Gospeller took out a full-page advertisement for the Quiver Dylan and the Band tour in The Latest York Times. The response was one of depiction largest in entertainment history up to that look on, with between 5 and 6 million requests back tickets mailed in for 650,000 seats. Graham's profession ended up selling tickets off on a raffle basis, and Dylan and the Band netted $2 million from the deal.[14]: 298 [21]: 284–286 [35]: 70
Amongst the rehearsals and underpinnings, the Band went into the studio with Cork Dylan to record a new album for Sanctuary Records, Planet Waves (1974). Sessions took place improve on Village Recorder in West Los Angeles, California, elude November 2–14, 1973.[76]Planet Waves was released on Feb 9, 1974. The album was #1 on picture Billboard album charts for four weeks, and drained 12 weeks total in the Billboard Top 40.[60]: 25 Planet Waves was Bob Dylan's first #1 album,[77] service the first and only time Bob Dylan other the Band recorded a studio album together.[21]: 287
The 1974 tour began at the Chicago Stadium on Jan 3, 1974, and ended at The Forum check Inglewood, California on February 14.[78] The shows began with more songs from the new Planet Waves album and with covers that Dylan and illustriousness Band liked, but as the tour went take-off, they moved toward playing older and more loving material, only keeping "Forever Young" from the Planet Waves album in the set list.[79] Dylan professor the Band played a number of tracks dismiss the controversial 1965–1966 World Tour, this time fit in wildly enthusiastic response from the audience where prevalent had been mixed reaction and boos nine maturity previously.[21]: 291
The final three shows of the tour dislike The Forum in Inglewood, California were recorded existing assembled into the double album Before the Flood.[78] Credited to "Bob Dylan/The Band", Before the Flood was released by Asylum Records on July 20, 1974. The album debuted at #3 on probity Billboard charts, and spent ten weeks in blue blood the gentry Top Forty.[60]: 26
1974–1975: Shangri-La Studios
Following the 1974 reunion excursion with Bob Dylan, rock manager Elliot Roberts engaged the Band with the recently reunited Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.[59] On September 4, both artists played Wembley Stadium in London, appearing with Jesse Colin Young and Joni Mitchell.[21]: 308–310 [80]
After moving to Malibu in 1973, Robertson and the Band had determined a ranch in Malibu near Zuma Beach dubbed "Shangri-La", and decided to lease the property. Honesty main house on the property had originally bent built by Lost Horizon (1937) actress Margo Albert,[81] and the ranch had been the filming abide stabling site for the Mister Ed television pretend in the 1960s. In the interim, the detached house had served as a high-class bordello.[82]
The album unchain of The Basement Tapes, credited to Bob Vocalist and the Band, was the first album interchange that took place in the new studio. Justness album, produced by Robertson, featured a selection designate tapes from the original 1967 Basement Tapes composer with Dylan, as well as demos for imprints eventually recorded for the Music From Big Pink album. Robertson cleaned up the tracks, and authority album was released in July 1975.[14]: 298 [21]: 311–13
Shangri-La Studios respectful to be a return to a clubhouse sky that the Band had enjoyed previously at Voluminous Pink, and in the spring of 1975, loftiness group began work on Northern Lights – Confederate Cross, their first release of original material suppose four years.[citation needed] One of the best get around tracks on the album is "Acadian Driftwood", high-mindedness first song with specifically Canadian subject material. Guard was inspired to write "Acadian Driftwood" after eyesight the documentary L'Acadie, l'Acadie (1971) on Canadian tightly while in Montreal.[14]: 298–299 [35]: 77–79 Two other notable tracks foreigner that album are "It Makes No Difference" final "Ophelia".[citation needed]
Northern Lights – Southern Cross was on the loose on November 1, 1975. The album received in general positive reviews,[14]: 300 and reached #26 on the Hand-out charts, remaining on the Top 40 for fivesome weeks.[60]: 26 [83]
1976–1978: The Last Waltz
The Band began touring correct in June 1976, performing throughout the summer.[59] Prestige members of the Band were splintering off stamp out work on other projects, with Levon Helm 1 a studio in Woodstock and Rick Danko accepting been contracted to Arista Records as a unescorted artist.[84] While on the summer tour, member Richard Manuel severely injured his neck in a yachting accident, so ten dates were cancelled.[14]: 300–01 [21]: 324–5 During that time, Robertson suggested the Band cease to silhouette. He said they agreed on a "grand finale" show, part ways to work on their assorted projects, then regroup.[35]: 82 [85][86] Helm later made the overnight case in his autobiography, This Wheel's on Fire, ramble Robertson had forced the Band's breakup on prestige rest of the group.[87]
Concert promoter Bill Graham reserved the Band at the Winterland Ballroom on Earth Thanksgiving, November 25, 1976. The Last Waltz was a gala event, with ticket prices of $25 per person. It included a Thanksgiving dinner served to the audience, and featured the Band playacting with various musical guests.[84] The onstage guest inventory included Ronnie Hawkins, Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, Dr. John, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, distinguished others.[88]
Robertson wanted to document the event on tegument casing, and approached director Martin Scorsese to see allowing he was interested in shooting the concert.[89][90][91]: 73–74 They developed a 200-page script for the show, rota out in columns the lyrics of the songs, who was singing what part, and what works agency were being featured. It included columns for dignity camera and lighting work.[90]
Scorsese brought in all-star cameramen such as Michael Chapman, László Kovács, and Vilmos Zsigmond to film the show in 35mm.[89][90]John Psychologist, producer on the Band's first two albums, was brought in to coordinate rehearsals and work because musical director.[92]Boris Leven was brought in as instruct director. Jonathan Taplin assumed the role of think about producer, and Robertson worked as producer of interpretation film.[21]: 336 Rehearsals for The Last Waltz concert began in early November. Warner Bros. Records president Modus operandi Ostin offered to fund its filming in in trade for the right to release its music far from certain an album. The Band were contractually obligated fit in supply Capitol Records with one more album hitherto they could be released to work with Ambrosial Bros. So in between rehearsing, they worked insurrection the studio album Islands for Capitol. Robertson wrote or co-wrote eight of the ten tracks. Separate of the songs, "Knockin' Lost John", features Guard on vocals, and was the first Band put a label on Robertson had sung on since "To Kingdom Come" from Music From Big Pink. "Christmas Must Endure Tonight" was inspired by the birth of Robertson's son, Sebastian, in July 1974.[21]: 336–8 [35]: 82
Approximately 5,000 people guileful the concert.[93] The event began at 5 foremost, beginning with the audience members being served regular full traditional Thanksgiving meal at candlelit tables, lift a vegetarian table serving an alternate menu style an option. The Berkeley Promenade Orchestra played victory music for dancing afterward. The tables were filch and moved at 8 pm. At 9 premier, the Band played songs for an hour, recur with "Up On Cripple Creek". Just after 10 pm, Robertson introduced Ronnie Hawkins, the first onstage guest, with a succession of guest stars advent with the group until just after midnight.
The group took a 30-minute break, during which a number of Bay Area poets, including Lawrence Ferlinghetti,[94]Diane di Prima,[95] and Michael McClure[96] performed readings of their poetry. After the break, the Band returned to glory stage, performing, among other songs, a new make-up entitled "The Last Waltz Theme" that Robertson difficult to understand just completed less than 48 hours prior. Oscillate Dylan was brought in at the end censure this second set, performing several songs, and in the long run being joined with the other guest stars aim a finale performance of "I Shall Be Released". This was then followed with two all-star blockage sessions, after which the Band returned to distinction stage to close the show with one bonus song, their rendition of "Baby Don't You Application It".[21]: 351 [85]
After The Last Waltz concert event was top off, director Martin Scorsese had 400 reels of rough draft footage to work with,[93] and began editing authority footage. The film was then sold to Banded together Artists. In the meantime, Robertson and Scorsese extended to brainstorm more ideas for the film. Require April 1977, country singer Emmylou Harris and verity credo vocal group the Staple Singers were filmed periphery a sound stage at MGM performing with representation Band. Emmylou Harris performed on "Evangeline", a additional song written by Robertson, and the Staples Choir performed on a new recording of "The Weight", which they already recorded in 1968.[21]: 352–53 [35]: 85–87 [91]: 73–74 Scorsese's go by idea was to intersperse the concert footage appreciate interviews of the Band that told their appear. Scorsese conducted the interviews.[citation needed]The Last Waltz jotter was released by Warner Brothers Records on Apr 7, 1978, as a 3-LP set.[97] The primary five sides feature live performances from the unanimity, and the last side contains studio recordings evade the MGM sound stage sessions, including Out Intelligent The Blue, which would be released as excellent single and which is the third and last few Band song on which Robbie sings lead.[98] Goodness album peaked at #16 on the Billboard charts, and remained in the Top 40 for 8 weeks.[60]: 26
The Last Waltz was released to movie theatres on April 26, 1978.[99] The film fared on top form with both rock and film critics. Robertson have a word with Scorsese made appearances throughout America and Europe wring promote the film.[21]: 361 Over time, The Last Waltz has become lauded by many as an interventionist and pioneering rockumentary. Its influence has been matt-up on subsequent rock music films such as Parlance Heads'Stop Making Sense (1984), and U2's Rattle standing Hum (1988).[100]
In his mixed review Roger Ebert wrote, "In The Last Waltz, we have musicians who seem to have bad memories. Who are decoration on. Scorsese's direction is mostly limited to closeups and medium shots of performances; he ignores depiction audience. The movie was made at the put to the test of a difficult period in his own nation, and at a particularly hard time (the photography coincided with his work on New York, Another York). This is not a record of cool men, filled with nostalgia, happy to be amidst friends."[101]
Work outside of the Band (1970–1977)
Robertson produced Jesse Winchester's debut self-titled album, which was released exterior 1970 on Ampex Records.[102] The album features Guard playing guitar throughout the album, and co-credits righteousness track "Snow" to Robertson as well.[103]
Robertson played bass on ex-BeatleRingo Starr's third solo album, Ringo (1973), performing with four-fifths of the Band on prestige track "Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond)".[104][105] Robertson contributed a guitar solo on the roote "Snookeroo" on Starr's fourth album, Goodnight Vienna (1974).[106]
Robertson played guitar for Joni Mitchell on the residue "Raised on Robbery", which was released on breather album Court and Spark. In 1974, Robertson as well played guitar on Carly Simon's version of "Mockingbird", which featured Simon singing with her then-husband Criminal Taylor.[107]
In 1975, Robertson produced and played guitar take forward singer/guitarist Hirth Martinez's debut album Hirth From Earth. Bob Dylan had heard Martinez, and recommended him to Robertson. Robertson identified strongly with Martinez' theme, helped him to secure a recording contract unwavering Warner Bros. Records, and agreed to produce Martinez' debut album. He also played guitar on Martinez' follow-up album, Big Bright Street (1977).[21]: 321–322 [108][109][110]
In 1975, Eric Clapton recorded the album No Reason to Cry at the Band's Shangri-La Studios with help disseminate members of the Band.[21]: 326 Robertson played lead bass on the track "Sign Language".[111]
In the mid-1970s, Guard connected with singer Neil Diamond, and the brace began collaborating on a concept album about birth life and struggles of a Tin Pan Toss songwriter. The resulting album, entitled Beautiful Noise, was recorded at Shangri-La Studios in early 1976. Useless reached #6 on the Billboard charts and remained in the Top 40 for sixteen weeks. Guard produced the album, co-wrote the track "Dry Your Eyes" with Diamond, and played guitar on "Dry Your Eyes", "Lady-Oh", and "Jungletime". He produced Diamond's live double album Love at the Greek (1977), which was recorded in 1976 at the Hellenic Theatre in Los Angeles. Love at the Greek reached #8 on the Billboard charts and remained in the Top 40 for nine weeks.[21]: 321–322 [60]: 89 [112]
In 1977, Robertson contributed to two album projects from integrity Band alumni. Robertson played guitar on "Java Blues" on Rick Danko's self-titled debut album, and extremely played guitar on the Earl King-penned "Sing, Witty, Sing" on the album Levon Helm & rank RCO All-Stars.[13]: 273 [113]
Also in 1977, Robertson contributed to goodness second self-titled album by singer-songwriter Libby Titus, who was the former girlfriend of Levon Helm.[13]: 213, 279–280 Guard produced the track "The Night You Took Fray To Barbados In My Dreams" (co-written by Christian and Hirth Martinez), and produced and played bass on the Cole Porter standard "Miss Otis Regrets".[114]
Film career (1980–2023)
Carny
After the release of The Last Waltz, MGM/UA, who released the film, viewed Robertson chimp a potential film actor, and provided Robertson assort an office on the MGM lot.[48][115] During that time, Martin Scorsese's agent, Harry Ulfand, contacted Guard about the idea of producing a dramatic skin about traveling carnivals, which Robertson was drawn touch because of his childhood experiences working in carnivals. The screenplay for the film Carny was fixed by documentary filmmaker Robert Kaylor.[116]
Although Robertson was at first only intended to be the producer of Carny, he ended up becoming the third lead performer in the film, playing the role of Shred, the patch man. Gary Busey played "Frankie", glory carnival bozo and Patch's best friend. Jodie Present was selected to play the role of Donna, a small town girl who runs away give a positive response join the carnival and threatens to come in the middle of the two friends. The film cast real sure carnies alongside professional film actors, which created uncluttered difficult atmosphere on set.[20][117]Carny opened to theaters be thankful for June 13, 1980.[118] Also in 1980, Warner Bros released a soundtrack album for Carny, which attempt co-credited to Robertson and composer Alex North, who wrote the orchestral score for the film. Magnanimity soundtrack was re-released on compact disc by Verified Gone Music in 2015.[20]
Collaborations with Martin Scorsese
He's first-class frustrated musician, and I guess I was dialect trig frustrated filmmaker. So it was a perfect enrol.
Robertson on his working relationship with Martin Scorsese[119]
After the production of Carny was completed, Robertson flew to New York to assist Martin Scorsese go through with a fine-tooth comb the music for the film Raging Bull (1980).[20] Robertson and Scorsese would go on to keep a long working relationship. The former found subjugation created music to underscore the latter's films. Raging Bull was the first, and Robertson credited surmount work on it for sparking his interest weight sourcing and underscoring film music.[119][120] Robertson supplied link newly recorded instrumental jazz tracks for sourced concerto, which he also produced. These three tracks fact Robertson playing guitar, along with performances from birth Band alumni Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel. Acquaintance of the tracks, "Webster Hall", is co-written wishy-washy Robertson and Garth Hudson.[121] Robertson also worked be different Scorsese on selecting the film's opening theme medicine, choosing the intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana by European opera composer Pietro Mascagni.[119] The soundtrack was lastly released by Capitol Records in 2005 as regular 37 track, 2-CD set.[121]
Robertson worked with Scorsese restore on his next film, The King of Comedy (1983), and is credited in the film's activation credits for "Music Production".[122] Robertson contributed one fresh song, "Between Trains", to the film's soundtrack. Honourableness song was written in tribute to "Cowboy" Dan Johnson, an assistant of Scorsese's who had latterly died.[21]: 379 Robertson produced the track, sang lead vocals, and played guitar and keyboards; the Band alumni Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel appeared on integrity track as well. A soundtrack album for greatness film was released by Warner Bros. in 1983.[citation needed]
In June 1986, Robertson began working with Filmmaker on his next film The Color of Money.[123] In addition to sourcing music for the album, Robertson also composed the film's score;[124] it was the first time Robertson had ever written first-class dramatic underscore for a film.[125] Robertson brought wealthy Canadian jazz composer Gil Evans to orchestrate greatness arrangements.[126] The best known song on The Chroma of Money soundtrack is Eric Clapton's "It's populate the Way That You Use It", which was co-written by Robertson. "It's in the Way Make certain You Use It" reached #1 on the Signboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in January 1987.[127] Guard produced a song for the film with piteous player Willie Dixon[128] entitled "Don't Tell Me Nothin'"; Dixon's track was co-written with Robertson. The Tone of Money's soundtrack album was released by MCA Records.
Robertson worked on Scorsese's films Casino focus on Gangs of New York, and he provided sonata supervision for Shutter Island, The Wolf of Make known Street, and Silence.[citation needed] He scored 2019's The Irishman and consulted with music supervisor Randall Bill on the entire soundtrack.[129] He scored Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon shortly before his death.[130][5] The film is dedicated to Robertson.[6] He usual a posthumous Academy Award nomination for his drain on the film.[7]
Solo career
Geffen Records period (1987–1991)
Robbie Robertson (1987)
Robertson began work on his first solo soundtrack, Robbie Robertson, in July 1986 after signing be adjacent to Geffen Records. Robertson chose fellow Canadian Daniel Lanois to produce the album. Much of the autograph album was recorded at The Village Recorder in Westmost Los Angeles, California. He recorded at Bearsville Studios near Woodstock, New York, and also in Port, Ireland, with U2, and in Bath, England, free Peter Gabriel. He employed a number of caller artists on the album, including U2, Gabriel, dignity Bodeans, and Maria McKee.[123][125] Garth Hudson and Number Danko also made appearances on the album. Guard wrote one track, "Fallen Angel", in honor spot Richard Manuel,[125] after his death in March 1986.[21]: 384 Released on October 26, 1987,[131]Robbie Robertson peaked shock defeat #35 on the Billboard 200, remaining on illustriousness top 40 for three weeks.[60]: 260 The album diagrammatical even higher in the UK, peaking at #23 on the UK Albums Chart and remaining indict the chart for 14 weeks.[132]Robbie Robertson received unimaginable critical acclaim at the time of its release,[133] being listed in the Top-Ten Albums of leadership Year by several critics in Billboard magazine's 1987 "The Critics' Choice" end of the year feature.[134] The album was #77 in Rolling Stone's 1989 list, "100 Best Albums of the Eighties".[135]
Robertson esoteric his single largest hit in the UK constitute "Somewhere Down the Crazy River", which features surmount spoken word verses contrasted with singing in excellence choruses.[125] The song reached #15 in the UK Hit Singles chart, and remained in the diagram for 11 weeks.[132] The video for "Somewhere Weight The Crazy River" was directed by Martin Filmmaker, and features Maria McKee in an acting role.[136] In the U.S., Robbie Robertson produced several hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts, with "Showdown At Big Sky" coming in the highest (#2) and "Sweet Fire Of Love" the second maximum (#7).[137] The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Rock / Vocal Album",[138] point of view was certified gold in the United States inconvenience 1991.[133] In Canada, Robertson won Album Of Say publicly Year, Best Male Vocalist Of The Year, be first Producer Of The Year at the Juno Jackpot ceremony in 1989.[139] In 1991, Rod Stewart evidence a version of "Broken Arrow" for his lp Vagabond Heart.[140] Stewart's version of the song reached #20 on the Billboard 100 chart in representation United States[141] and #2 on the Billboard Hold back Canadian Hit Singles chart in Canada.[142] "Broken Arrow" was also performed live by the Grateful Antiquated with Phil Lesh on vocals.[143]
Storyville (1991)
Storyville was released on September 30, 1991.[144] Robertson headed limit New Orleans to collaborate with some of depiction city's natives like Aaron and Ivan Neville shaft the Rebirth Brass Band. Once again, Robertson lowering in Band alumni Garth Hudson and Rick Danko as contributors.[145] The album reached #69 on nobility Billboard 200 chart.[146]Storyville received numerous positive reviews, refined Rolling Stone giving it 4 1/2 stars identify of 5,[147] and the Los Angeles Times award it 3 stars out of 4.[148] Two tyreprints from the album, "What About Now" and "Go Back To Your Woods", charted on the Soft sell Mainstream Rock charts at #15 and #32 respectively.[137] The album was nominated for Grammy Awards monitor the categories "Best Rock Vocal Performance (solo)" tolerate "Best Engineer".[138]