Robbie Robertson, the guitarist, singer, and songwriter for legendary Canadian American rock band The Band and frequent collaborator of Bob Dylan and director Martin Scorsese, has died at 80 after a long illness.
Rock Royalty
As lead guitarist for Bob Dylan during Dylan’s transition to electric and as lead songwriter for The Band, Robertson was a foundational part of the early years of Rock and Roll. Among many of The Band’s songs, “The Weight,” released in 1968, quickly became a hit and has since been named one of the greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Toronto native has also been honored as a “member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Canada’s Walk of Fame, and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.”
Robbie Robertson has died.
He was the lead guitarist and songwriter for the iconic group The Band.
Born in Toronto on July 5, 1943, he is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Canada’s Walk of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.RIP to a Rock Legend. pic.twitter.com/REYfFj0lPL
— Craig Baird – Canadian History Ehx (@CraigBaird) August 9, 2023
Rock critic and author Steven Hyden highlights that Robertson’s solo career was also remarkable and called the musician “a real titan.”
RIP Robbie Robertson. Wrote some of the greatest songs of all time. Still my favorite guitarist to back up Bob Dylan. His debut solo album is one of my personal favorites. A real titan.
— Steven Hyden (@Steven_Hyden) August 9, 2023
Key Collaborator of Martin Scorsese
In 1978 Martin Scorsese directed The Last Waltz, a concert film centered on The Band’s final performance. But it began a beautiful partnership between the director and Robertson.
In the forty-five years since that film’s release, Robertson contributed music to many of Scorsese’s most beloved films, including Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, Casino, and more. One film fan remembers Robertson for his brilliant work on Scorsese’s The Irishman.
RIP Robbie Robertson who leaves behind a lot of great music but one I’ll never forget is getting gut-punched by that perfect final shot of The Irishman and then contemplating it to this when ‘In the Still of the Night’ fades out during the credits. https://t.co/Os5NkxLtQd
— Josh Lewis (@thejoshl) August 9, 2023
Another cinephile highlights that the world hasn’t heard the last of Robertson’s film music as the legendary songwriter scored for Scorsese’s upcoming Western Killers of the Flower Moon.
Killers of the Flower Moon will be even sadder when it opens in October because it has a Robbie Robertson score; RIP to a legend
— Jesse Hawken (@jessehawken) August 9, 2023
Whether you know and love him from his work with Dylan, The Band, or as the composer for some of the 20th and 21st century’s most celebrated films, there’s no doubt that we’ll all miss Robertson.
Kyle Logan is a film and television critic and general pop culture writer who has written for Alternative Press, Cultured Vultures, Film Stories, Screen Anarchy, and more. Kyle is particularly interested in horror and animation, as well as genre films written and directed by queer people and women. Kyle is a member of the Chicago Indie Critics and along with writing, organizes a Queer Film Challenge on Letterboxd.
