The Band guitarist and singer-songwriter Robbie Robertson has died. He was 80.

The information was confirmed on Wednesday evening (August 9) by way of The Band’s administration on social media. The assertion, which initially got here from Robertson’s household, reads: “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.”

Robbie Robertson is survived by his grandchildren Angelica, Donovan, Dominic, Gabriel, and Seraphina.

Robertson’s household has referred to as for donations to be made to the Six Nations of the Grand River in lieu of sending flowers. The donations might be helped to help a brand new Woodland Cultural Centre.

Robbie Robertson met Ronnie Hawkins, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson as a youngster, and so they went on to type The Hawks. Following the band’s cut up from Hawkins in 1965, they have been recruited to be Bob Dylan‘s backing band throughout his pivot to non-acoustic music.

Robertson and co. then rebranded themselves as The Band, and launched their debut album ‘Music from Big Pink’ in 1968. They might go on to launch hits like ‘The Weight’, ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’ ‘Up on Cripple Creek’ and ‘It Makes No Difference’ till their farewell present in 1976.

The farewell present was documented by Martin Scorsese in The Final Waltz, which was launched in 1978 and is broadly thought of an all-time traditional music documentary.

Robertson would go on to work along with his former Band members in different aspect initiatives whereas additionally releasing solo materials all through the remainder of his profession. He launched his self-titled debut in 1986 and his sophomore document, ‘Storyville’, in 1991, and contributed to data by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Ringo Starr, Neil Diamond and others. Robertson launched his ultimate solo album, ‘Sinematic’, in 2019.

robbie robertson performs reside with the band in 1971. credit score: michael putland/getty photographs

Since The Final Waltz, Robertson had maintained a inventive relationship with Martin Scorsese, who additionally produced 2019’s As soon as Have been Brothers documentary based mostly on Robertson’s recollections.

Robertson went on to attain a number of of Scorsese’s movies, together with Raging Bull, On line casino, The Wolf of Wall Road and The Irishmen. His final collaboration with Scorsese will come within the type of rating for Killers of the Flower Moon rating, which is ready for launch later this yr.

Following the information of his demise, tributes have begun pouring in for the late musician.

Scorsese mentioned of Robertson by way of a press release to Pitchfork: “Robbie Robertson was one of my closest friends, a constant in my life and my work. I could always go to him as a confidante. A collaborator. An advisor. I tried to be the same for him.”

“Long before we ever met, his music played a central role in my life—me and millions and millions of other people all over this world. The Band’s music, and Robbie’s own later solo music, seemed to come from the deepest place at the heart of this continent, its traditions and tragedies and joys. It goes without saying that he was a giant, that his effect on the art form was profound and lasting. There’s never enough time with anyone you love. And I loved Robbie,” Scorsese continued.

Neil Diamond wrote on Twitter: “The music world lost a great one with the passing of Robbie Robertson. Keep making that Beautiful Noise in the sky, Robbie. I’ll miss you.”

Joni Mitchell’s workforce wrote: “Rest in peace Robbie Robertson, legendary lead guitarist of The Band, fellow Canadian, and cherished collaborator of Joni’s. May his legacy and musical harmony resonate for generations to come.”

See extra tributes beneath.