MUSICAL ROOTSROBBIE ROBERTSON
Jamie Robert Klegerman, better known to the world as Robbie Robertson was born in Toronto of Jewish and Mohawk parents. He would spend many summers at the native reserve with his mother’s family, soaking in the unique musical tradition and culture; his love of music was born. While at The Six Nations Reserve, west of Brantford Ontario he began taking guitar lessons and would quickly begin composing his first songs, a mix of Native Canadian folk, rock and country music with a hint of big band thrown in. Back in Toronto, Robbie would garner some attention at local gigs and would soon drop out of school to devote all of his attention to his songwriting, guitar playing and singing.
By the summer of 1958 at the age of 15, Robertson had met singer Ronnie Hawkins, who headed a band called the Hawks. Robbie joined the Hawks and began touring extensively until 1963 when they disbanded. Robertson, along with fellow members Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel soon caught the attention of Bob Dylan and would become the backing band for Dylan’s legendary 1965-66 world tour. They would be known simply as The Band and would go on to write and perform some classic rock & roll songs such as “The Weight”, “Rag Mama Rag”, “Chest Fever” and Stage Fright”. The Band would go on to become one of the premier bands of the era. Robbie only sang a few of The Bands many songs, but was their main songwriter.
Citing exhaustion from 16 years of touring, Robbie broke up The Band on Thanksgiving Day, 1976 after an all-star concert, filmed by acclaimed director Martin Scorsese. It would be called, The Last Waltz. This would begin a special relationship between Robertson and Scorsese. Robbie would score the music to Scorsese’s classic Raging Bull, as well as The King Of Comedy, The Color Of Money and later Casino, The Departed and Gangs Of New York.
Robbie Robertson would go on to release four solo albums working alongside the likes of U2, Peter Gabriel and Daniel Lanois. His 1978 self-titled album with co-produced by Lanois brought him a Grammy nomination for best male rock vocal and a Juno award for best album.
Robbie Robertson’s songs have been recorded by such musical greats as Joan Baez, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Emmy Lou Harris, Diana Ross & The Supremes, and others. Bob Dylan once called Robertson a “mathematical guitar genius” and he is listed in Rolling Stone magazines 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time, at #78.
Some of Robbie Robertson’s other accomplishments include receiving the lifetime achievement awards from the National Academy of Songwriters (1997), the Native American Music Awards (1998), and at the Aboriginal Achievement Awards (2003). He has been featured on CBC TV's Life and Times (2001) and in the PBS documentary called Making a Noise.
Robbie also performed at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, as was inducted into Canada’s Walk Of Fame in 2003.
Listen to Time Bandits Radio to hear the music of Robbie Robertson & The Band
To find out more about Robbie Robertson visit: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll or
http://theband.hiof.no/band_members/robbie.html
Jamie Robert Klegerman, better known to the world as Robbie Robertson was born in Toronto of Jewish and Mohawk parents. He would spend many summers at the native reserve with his mother’s family, soaking in the unique musical tradition and culture; his love of music was born. While at The Six Nations Reserve, west of Brantford Ontario he began taking guitar lessons and would quickly begin composing his first songs, a mix of Native Canadian folk, rock and country music with a hint of big band thrown in. Back in Toronto, Robbie would garner some attention at local gigs and would soon drop out of school to devote all of his attention to his songwriting, guitar playing and singing.
By the summer of 1958 at the age of 15, Robertson had met singer Ronnie Hawkins, who headed a band called the Hawks. Robbie joined the Hawks and began touring extensively until 1963 when they disbanded. Robertson, along with fellow members Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel soon caught the attention of Bob Dylan and would become the backing band for Dylan’s legendary 1965-66 world tour. They would be known simply as The Band and would go on to write and perform some classic rock & roll songs such as “The Weight”, “Rag Mama Rag”, “Chest Fever” and Stage Fright”. The Band would go on to become one of the premier bands of the era. Robbie only sang a few of The Bands many songs, but was their main songwriter.
Citing exhaustion from 16 years of touring, Robbie broke up The Band on Thanksgiving Day, 1976 after an all-star concert, filmed by acclaimed director Martin Scorsese. It would be called, The Last Waltz. This would begin a special relationship between Robertson and Scorsese. Robbie would score the music to Scorsese’s classic Raging Bull, as well as The King Of Comedy, The Color Of Money and later Casino, The Departed and Gangs Of New York.
Robbie Robertson would go on to release four solo albums working alongside the likes of U2, Peter Gabriel and Daniel Lanois. His 1978 self-titled album with co-produced by Lanois brought him a Grammy nomination for best male rock vocal and a Juno award for best album.
Robbie Robertson’s songs have been recorded by such musical greats as Joan Baez, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Emmy Lou Harris, Diana Ross & The Supremes, and others. Bob Dylan once called Robertson a “mathematical guitar genius” and he is listed in Rolling Stone magazines 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time, at #78.
Some of Robbie Robertson’s other accomplishments include receiving the lifetime achievement awards from the National Academy of Songwriters (1997), the Native American Music Awards (1998), and at the Aboriginal Achievement Awards (2003). He has been featured on CBC TV's Life and Times (2001) and in the PBS documentary called Making a Noise.
Robbie also performed at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, as was inducted into Canada’s Walk Of Fame in 2003.
Listen to Time Bandits Radio to hear the music of Robbie Robertson & The Band
To find out more about Robbie Robertson visit: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll or
http://theband.hiof.no/band_members/robbie.html
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