Robbie Robertson, The Band’s Lead Guitarist And Primary Songwriter, Dies At 80

Robbie Robertson, a Canadian guitarist and songwriter with the influential folk-rock group the Band who crafted some of its enduring hits including “The Weight” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” and then led a farewell concert in 1976 chronicled in Martin Scorsese’s film “The Last Waltz,” died in Los Angeles at 80.

In a statement, Robertson’s manager of 34 years, Jared Levine, said “Robbie was surrounded by his family at the time of his death, including his wife, Janet, his ex-wife, Dominique, her partner Nicholas, and his children Alexandra, Sebastian, Delphine, and Delphine’s partner Kenny. He is also survived by his grandchildren Angelica, Donovan, Dominic, Gabriel, and Seraphina. Robertson recently completed his fourteenth film music project with frequent collaborator Martin Scorsese, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon.’”

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Robertson had roots in both the Mohawk community at the Six Nations Reserve, as well as the Jewish enclave of his home city’s downtown.