Robbie Robertson, leader of the legendary group The Band and close collaborator to music giants including Bob Dylan, has died at the age of 80.
His management confirmed the news to Variety on Wednesday morning, stating he died in Los Angeles after a ‘long illness’.
Jaren Levine, Robertson’s manager for 34 years, stated the singer-songwriter was ‘surrounded by his family’ at the time of his death including his wife, Janet, his ex-wife Dominique, and his three children.
The star had recently completed work on his final project with long-time collaborator Martin Scorsese, working on upcoming film Killers Of The Flower Moon, which has already received Oscar buzz despite not even being released yet.
Robertson rose to prominence in the 70s alongside lifetime friend Bob Dylan, leading the Band during the singer’s often-debated ‘Dylan Goes Electric’ era in 1965.
In an interview with Variety two weeks before his death, Robertson reminisced on their longtime friendship and said: “We’ve been through it; we’ve been there and back. I am so proud of our friendship and our work. It’s been just a gift in life.”
The story of The Band was also central to the 2019 documentary Once Were Brothers.
Robertson’s most beloved tracks include The Weight, Up On Cripple Creek and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Six Nations of the Grand River to support a new Woodland Cultural Center.
