Generally when a person passes away, a flurry of tributes and condolences respond to the announcement. I felt emptiness and disillusionment when there was almost a deafening silence in responses on the passing of this man when the news broke on Wednesday the 9th of August 2023 in this part of our world. It seemed like the news of his passing had been hurled into dark cyber space and was lost forever in a black hole.
Robbie Robertson was an iconic guitarist, composer and musician who carved out a niche for himself in the heady days of the 60s and 70s fronting a group named, The Band. This consisted of Canadians Rick Danko on bass, pianist Richard Manuel, Robbie on guitar and Garth Hudson on organ and other instruments and was a principal architect of the group's sound. Levon Helm was the American drummer and vocalist.
With the deaths of Richard Manuel in 1986, Rick Danko in 1999, Levon Helm in 2012, and Robbie Robertson in 2023, Hudson is the last living original member of the band.
Robbie grew up in a Native American reservation during his youth and learned music from his mother’s side of the family who were Mohawk and lived on the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve. He rose to prominence with The Band backing Bob Dylan when he went from acoustic to controversial electric performances. With The Band striking out on their own, they carved a niche sound that many have not been able to copy. There were elements of folk, rock, country and Southern rock that influenced people as diverse as The Allman Brothers, George Harrison and Eric Clapton.
The very essence of The Band is captured in the classic Martin Scorsese documentary film The Last Waltz.(1978) This was their farewell concert at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. In one instance, Eric Clapton’s guitar strap comes unhinged and Robbie takes over the solo completely unfazed. He maintained a very close relationship with Martin Scorsese over the years and scored several of the films like Raging Bull, The Wolf On Wall Street and completing the forthcoming Scorsese film, Killers of the Flower Moon just prior to his passing.
May Robbie on his journey to the heavens find eternal peace.
(July 5, 1943 – August 9, 2023)
For the love and respect of his Native American heritage, donations may be made to the Six Nations of the Grand River to support a new Woodland Cultural Center.
Written by: Horace Wee
13 comments:
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING WHO LIKE THIS POST
Freda Hanum
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Davy Chan
Here's our own maestro, Horace Wee writing about a great music hero who was a MOHAWK, native Indian... Apparently not many of our local musicians knew or heard about him.
Andy Young
Thanks Davy, for being the first to LIKE this article. Cheers.
Andy Young
Thanks Ivor for LIKING the post too.
Always appreciate your expertise and Davy Chan's on local music matters.
Andy Young
Thank you all very much for LIKING this post
Abdu Willitonka
Classical music and modern music have different styles. When I was young, my dream was to become a music teacher. Unfortunately, I didn't fulfill my dream. What kind of music do you like?
Hi Andy!
What a befitting tribute to the BAND's legendary leader and guitarist: the late ROBBIE ROBERTSON [not well known here] by our very own music legend: multi instrumentalist but most famous for his guitar work; Mr Horace Wee.
Nice piece.
Thanks Horace, for the tribute.
RIP ROBBIE ROBINSON.
There's no doubt.
Not many people are familiar with this music maker.
And it's an article to be read, especially if you are into Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Ringo Starr.
Cheers!
Fred Ching
Thanks to our guitar hero, Horace for this fantastic article. I was 13 when I heard Robbie and The Band for the first time. Loved their widely acclaimed debut album, ‘Music From Big Pink.’
What caught my attention back then was their distinctive blend of country rock, folk classical, R&B and soul. One of my favourite tracks from this album, on constant repeat as I listened to my iPod and continue my vocation in HK. Waaay better than the Bob Dylan original haha.
Cheers Brother Andy.
😊🙏..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9avKq94DGY
Fred Ching coming all the way from HK, thanks for sharing your perspective on Robertson. According to our local music cohort, not many folks are familiar with this musician, so your comment is invaluable.
I hope other readers who are just as knowledgeable about the late Mr. Robertson will share their information too. Again thanks Fred.
And thanks for the connection too Fred. 🙏
You certainly know your music personalities.👍
Stella Lin
I believe from your post you must be a man with a good heart. I thought of knowing more and also being your friend but I don't want to be disrespectful to you.
Andy Young
Stella Lin hello. You can write and comment anytime about the topics discussed. Thank you.
Fred Ching
Andy Young Brother Andy your comments on The Blackjacks’ version, makes me reminisced about this fabulous CDs, ‘Recollecting Singapore 60s’ again and I believe it’s a decent rendition back then in 1969. The voice of Ramon Rahman on track 2, still gave me goosebumps.
Also I often hear it over the weekend when our Uncle Brian use to host the Vintage Showcase.. another track came to mind was this song by Western Union Band, when he mentioned that this was the first time he’s playing this track on air. Gosh, how music takes ya back
👍❤️🥰..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oU0NYJ2dKg
Andy Young
Fred Ching you're an encyclopedia for local music too!
And thanks for sharing the songs and CDs.
Cheers.
mattjstlan:
2023.. what a year. we lost so many great friends. EVH, jeff beck, and personally, most recently, i was told by horace wee that right around the same time as jimmy appudurai's passing my old friend and co founder of fried ice raymond anthony also passed away.
it is indeed a sad time to receive such messages. but it is also during these totally innocuous times of world unrest a reminder of our fragility and mortality. it gives us a sense of getting back, as the old hindu saying , a remembrance of how we were all doing fine without meddling with our own lives. as a sage and preacher said, we were all doing fine in the arms of the almighty, the universe, mother nature or whoever you may call it in your own personal beliefs.
then as soon as we came out we say.. "OK, i will take over from here on.. WE literally had EGO take over.. E-dge O-ut G-od and went with fear.. F-alse e-vidence A-ppearing R-eal. and from there on.. the world went topsy turvy. everybody was a guru, everybody was an expert. and the pills, drugs, and mania takes over.
hopefully, we will all come home, and reach back to our remembering, and pass the steering whell back to the creator, the universe, mother nature, Jesus, Allah, Bodhisatva, .. (fill in your own personal totem spirit.
Here's to the best for all my kawan kawan in singapura. Kong hay fatt choy, xin nian kuai le. Happy new year of the dragon.
zai jien.. see you again.. soon.
and for me this too will mark my third phase.. to return to music after a very long break with the lost of my muse ( lost it during the lockdown. i felt so lost, uninspired with all the mass psychosis. but i decided someone has to keep the fire burning.. jeff beck has left the building, raymond anthony has left too, so i guess there is just me.
........check out the latest handle on youtube.......
mattjsltan -tribute jeff beck.
see you soon.
p.s.
there are pretty much three pages on youtube you can find me..
(home).. mattjsltan-a tribute to jeff beck
(most popular songs)
((matt tan videos).
64 songs now activated. updated as at january 9 2024.
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