The Band’s Robbie Robertson

Robbie Robertson of The Band, the most North American of Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame musicians, passed away at age eighty in August 2023 after battling prostate cancer. Robbie Robertson truly deserved the designation Recording Artist. Immensely talented as a writer, for the last sixty-five of those years Robertson collaborated successfully with a Who’s Who of American auteurs in popular music and film, from Ronnie Hawkins & the Hawks, Bob Dylan, The Band, to filmmaker Martin Scorsese. A very young, dapper Robbie Robertson, center in white shirt, with The Band.

Robbie Robertson was a big supporter of In the Studio even before it’s inception in 1988 (our very first meeting was in 1987 to discuss his first solo album,  Robbie Robertson, a personal fave to this day) and was always generous with his time, participating multiple times in thoughtful, intelligent conversations. By appearing in one of In the Studio‘s first ten rockumentaries, Robbie Robertson gave our fledgling effort instant credibility in the competitive field of rock music journalism. As an elder statesman of twentieth century rock, as well as 21st century film soundtracks, we were blessed by his stories, wit, and wisdom multiple times here In the Studio.

Robbie Robertson was a wonderful guy, and it is hard to say goodbye. As Bob Dylan wrote and The Band sang, “Any day now, I shall be released.” -Redbeard