Robbie Robertson, the legendary Canadian musician who co-founded The Band and composed the scores for some of Martin Scorsese's most iconic films, has died at 80.
As the world mourns this monumental loss, celebrated filmmaker Scorsese steps forward to pay tribute to the acclaimed musician.
The Band's Robbie Robertson Dies at 80
The music industry bids farewell to an icon whose melodies have woven through the fabric of time. Robertson, "The Band" co-founder," has breathed his last at the age of 80, leaving behind an indelible mark on both music and cinema.
As per The Guardian, the Canadian singer-songwriter died after grappling with a long illness.
Robertson's manager for roughly 34 years, Jared Lavine, confirmed the passing of the iconic musician. He narrates, "Robbie was surrounded by his family at the time of his death, including his wife, Janet, his ex-wife, Dominique, and her partner Nicholas." His children, Delphine, Sebastian, and Alexandra, were also by his side before its untimely demise. Delphine's partner Kenny was also there.
Lavine also states, "He is also survived by his grandchildren Angelica, Donovan, Dominic, Gabriel, and Seraphina."
Robertson's longtime manager also disclosed that the family requested that instead of flowers, they are asking for donations to the Six Nations of the Grand River, which supports a new Woodland Cultural Center.
Robertson was born in Toronto in 1943 and began his career as a session musician in the early 1960s. He co-founded "The Band" in 1965 with Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, and Richard Manuel. The group quickly became one of the most popular and influential rock bands of the era, with their signature sound blending elements of folk, blues, and country.
As Rolling Stone reports, "The Band" continued to release acclaimed albums throughout the 1970s, including "The Band" (1969), Stage Fright (1970), and The Last Waltz (1978). 'The Last Waltz' was a concert film, which puts the spotlight on the group's farewell performance.
Martin Scorsese Pays Tribute to Robbie Robertson
On top of his illustrious career with "The Band," Robertson was also a prolific film composer. He scored in several of Scorsese's films, including 'Raging Bull' (1980), 'Casino' (1995), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), and 'The Irishman' (2019). In fact, according to Variety, Robertson also scored the renowned filmmaker's new film "Killers of the Flower Moon," which premieres in late 2023.
Since Socorsese had worked with Robertson in several films, the filmmaker paid tribute to his "closest friends." He recalls, "I could always go to him as a confidante. A collaborator. An advisor," adding that he "tried to be the same for him."
Meanwhile, Neil Diamond stresses the void he creates in the world of music. He says the "music world lost a great one with the passing of Robbie Robertson."
Related Article : 'Lil Tay' Suddenly Out: 14yo Internet Star Claire Hope, Brother Dead
