1943· Jaime Robbie Robertson born in Toronto, Canada, July 5. Father from Toronto; mother, of Mohawk descent, born and raised on the Six Nations Reservation.
1954-57· Begins learning guitar from relatives while visiting the reservation during summer months.
1958-59· Active around Toronto in various teenage groups, including Little Caesar & The Consuls, Robbie & The Robots, and Thumper & The Trambones.
1960· Singer Ronnie Hawkins records two early Robertson songs ("Hey Boba Lu" and "Someone Like You") on his Mr. Dynamo LP. Robertson then takes over lead guitar with The Hawks at the age of 16.
1961-64· Hawkins and The Hawks (which also includes Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson) tour clubs in the U.S. and Canada, and also as part of packaged shows that include acts such as Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, and Jackie Wilson. Robertson's unique guitar style on the songs "Who Do You Love" and "Come Love," on albums such as Best of Ronnie Hawkins and Mojo Man, ushers in an era of classic bluesy rock that significantly influences many musicians.
1964· On their own, The Hawks -- under the name The Canadian Squires -- release the single "Uh-Uh-Uh" backed with "Leave Me Alone " on the New York-based Ware label. The tracks are produced by R&B pioneer Henry Glover. Although The Hawks never changed their name during this period, historians speculate that label executives felt the group should establish their own reputation and distance themselves from being known as "Ronnie Hawkins' backup band," thus dubbing them The Canadian Squires.
1965· The Hawks move to the Apex label, which picks up and releases -- again under The Canadian Squires -- the "Uh-Uh-Uh"/ "Leave Me Alone" single.
1968· ATCO releases "Lisa Jane" b/w "He Don't Love You" (recorded three years in earlier during the Glover/Ramone sessions).
The Hawks become The Band and sign with Capitol Records. Their debut LP, Music From Big Pink, is released late summer. The album features now classic tunes by Robertson (including "The Weight," "Caledonia Mission" and "Chest Fever") as well as the first official version of Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." In addition to critical acclaim, the album was revered by some of the biggest names in rock, including The Beatles, Eric Clapton, and The Rolling Stones.
Due to their tremendous influence on the direction of rock music, The Band becomes the first North American rock group to appear on the cover of Time magazine. Their roots-rock influence has continued to resonate with musicians ever since.
1970·71 The Band tours the U.S. and Europe. In Canada, Robertson then produces singer/songwriter Jesse Winchester's eponymously titled debut album. Next comes The Band's Stage Fright album, released in the summer, which hits 5 on the charts and goes gold. The title track and "The hape I'm In" are among the standout Robertson songs. Cahoots, featuring "Life Is A Carnival," is released. The Band sets off on another U.S. tour, concluding with a New York City concert on New Year's Eve, which is recorded. Joan Baez's cover of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" peaks at 3 on Billboard's pop charts and hits 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary charts.
1972· Released in August, the New Year's Eve show becomes the double-album Rock of Ages and achieves gold status. Among its noteworthy cuts are the previously unreleased Robertson original "Get Up, Jake" and a cover of the R&B number "Baby, Don't Do It." The Dylan recut of Pennebaker's 1966 documentary is finally released as Eat the document_
1973·74 In July, The Band appears before an estimated 650,000 people (the largest rock concert audience in history) at the Watkins Glen Festival in upstate New York, sharing the bill with The Allman Brothers and The Grateful Dead. In December, Moondog Matinee, recreating the group's early club act featuring classic R&B and rock, is released. The Band appears as the backup group on Dylan's Planet Waves. Dylan and The Band cross the U.S. in a much heralded reunion tour. Before The Flood contains both Dylan and Band songs recorded live.
1976· Northern Lights - Southern Cross, The Band's first album of new songs in four years, includes new Robertson gems such as "Ophelia," "It Makes No Difference" and "Acadian Driftwood." R obertson produces Neil Diamond's Beautiful Noise. Robertson also produces the debut album from Hirth Martinez, Hirth From Earth. The Band performs a record-setting four songs on Saturday Night Live.
After 16 years together, The Band says farewell to live performing with the gala Last Waltz concert on Thanksgiving night. Held at the Winterland, such guest stars as Dylan, Hawkins, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and others participate. Capitol releases The Best Of The Band.
1977· Islands, the final Band studio album with Robertson, is released, featuring tracks such as "Knockin' Lost John," Robertson's first lead vocal since "To Kingdom Come" on Music From Big Pink.
Robertson also produces Diamond's Love At The Greek live album.
1978· Directed by Martin Scorsese, the concert film of The Last Waltz is released to strong critical and box office response. The three-LP soundtrack also encompasses new studio tracks called "The Last Waltz Suite," which includes "Out Of The Blue," written and sung by Robertson. Another Band greatest hits album, Anthology, Vol. I, is released.
1979·80 Robertson co-stars with Gary Busey and Jodie Foster in Carny. He also co-writes, produces, and composes source music for the film. Inspired by Carny soundtrack composer Alex North, with whom he worked, Robertson becomes one of the first rock 'n' rollers to seriously engage the medium of film. For Scorsese's Raging Bull, Robertson creates background music and produces source music. Released is The Band's Anthology, Vol. II.
1982·86 For another Scorsese film, King Of Comedy (released the following year), Robertson serves as music producer, assembling tunes by The Pretenders, Talking Heads, Ray Charles, Rickie Lee Jones and others. He also contributes with his first post-Band solo recording, "Between Trains." Additionally, he produces and plays guitar on Van Morrison's "Wonderful Remark." Robertson signs via A&R executive Gary Gersh for his debut solo album on Geffen Records. Robertson records with producer (and fellow Canadian) Daniel Lanois. He also scores Scorsese's The Color Of Money working with Gil Evans and co-writes with Clapton (It's In The Way That You Use It") and Willie Dixon.
For Taylor Hackford's film saluting Chuck Berry, Hail, Hail Rock & Roll, he's enlisted as creative consultant.
1987· Robertson completes his self-titled solo album for Geffen Records. Guest stars on the album include Peter Gabriel and U2. "Somewhere Down The Crazy River" is a hit in Europe (Scorsese directs the video). Robbie Robertson goes Top 40 and gold. Robertson earns a Grammy® nomination for "Best Rock Vocal" for the album.
Rod Stewart records the Robertson-penned "Broken Arrow," which appears on Stewart's Vagabond Heart album and becomes a hit.
1989· At the Juno Awards (the Canadian version of the Grammys®), Robertson's self-titled solo debut wins Album Of The Year; Robertson and Daniel Lanois earn Producer Of The Year; and Robertson is awarded Best Male Vocalist. In addition to Robertson's virtual Juno sweep, The Band is also inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame. Robertson reunites with The Band (minus Helm) for the first time in a dozen years with a performance at the awards ceremony.
Capitol-EMI releases To Kingdom Come, a 31-track collection of The Band's hits, album tracks, and rarities.
1991·94 Robertson co-produces his second album, Storyville, with Stephen Hague. Largely recorded in New Orleans, the album features some of the city's most respected musicians. Storyville earns Grammy® nominations for Best Rock Vocal Performance (Solo) and for Best Engineered Album. Robertson returns to his first recording home with The Band when he's signed by new Capitol Records president Gersh. The Band is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and performs live at the induction ceremony. Capitol releases Across The Great Divide, a three-CD boxed set chronicling The Band's legacy.
1995· Capitol releases The Band's Live At Watkins. Glen Robertson produces the two-CD soundtrack album for Scorsese's Casino, using recordings from a wide range of artists - from B.B. King to J.S. Bach.
The success of "Mahk Jchi (Heartbeat Drum Song)" inspires a concert in Agrigento, Italy, celebrating Native American music. Roberston headlines the festival along with numerous Native American musicians, and portions of the live performance will appear in a PBS documentary in 1998.
In Rome, Robertson headlines an annual Labor Day concert festival with support acts Andrea Bocelli, Elvis Costello, and Radiohead. More than 300,000 fans attend the event.
1996· Executive soundtrack producer Robertson hears a demo of "Change The World" and sends it to Clapton as a suggestion for the soundtrack to Phenomenon, starring John Travolta. He then enlists Babyface to produce the track. "Change the World" wins 1997 Grammy® Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
1997· Robertson receives a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Songwriters.
The Classic Albums series, which airs on VH1 and BBC, explores the making of some of rock's most popular and influential records. The story behind The Band's self-titled and enormously successful sophomore LP is told through a vivid collection of performance footage and interviews with members of The Band, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and Don Was. Classic Albums: The Band is currently available on Rhino Home Video.
1998· Contact From The Underworld Of Redboy is Robertson's first album in three years.
Robertson returns to the Six Nations Reservation -- where his mother was born and he spent his childhood summers -- as part of a one-hour documentary entitled Making A Noise: A Native American Journey With Robbie Robertson. Broadcast on PBS, the special takes viewers on a musical journey into the Native American heartland.
Mojo magazine declares Dylan's "Royal Albert Hall" Concert "The Most Famous Bootleg Album Of All Time," upon Columbia/Legacy's release of Bob Dylan Live 1966: The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert -Bootleg Series, Vol. 4. The complete 1966 live show is remixed and remastered from the original three-track source tapes. The first disc is Dylan's solo acoustic set; the second disc features his electrifying backing band, The Hawks (minus Helm). Capturing the hostility of "folk purists" in the audience, the set includes the stomping, booing, and now-famous cry of "Judas" from one audience member - plus Dylan's caustic retort.
1999· Robertson reflects on the breakup of The Band, his solo career, and his Native American roots in VH1's Behind The Music: Robbie Robertson.
2000· Music industry legends David Geffen and Mo Ostin convince Robertson to join DreamWorks Records as Creative Executive. Robertson, who persuaded Grammy® Award winner Nelly Furtado to sign with the company, is actively involved with film projects and developing new artist talent, including recent signings AI, Boomkat, Daniel DeBourg, eastmountainsouth, and singer-songwriter-pianist Dana Glover.
Robertson composes the musical score to Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday.
2000-2001· Robertson oversees Capitol Records' reissue campaign for all eight of The Band's original albums. In addition to supervising the remastering and remixing, he personally oversees the selection of all previously unreleased material included on the releases: Music From Big Pink, The Band, Stage Fright, Cahoots, Rock Of Ages (Live), Moondog Matinee, Northern Lights-Southern Cross, Islands.
2001· Life & Times, CBC-Television's premier biography series, airs Road Songs: A Portrait Of Robbie Robertson. Directed by Bruce McDonald (Highway 61, Hard Core Logo, Claire's Hat), the documentary traces Robertson's history from the streets of Toronto to stages around the world to his role at DreamWorks Records.
The first-ever Grammy® for Native American Album of the Year is awarded to XIT (Crossing of Indian Tribes) for Gathering of Nations Pow Wow. Robertson, who presented the award along with actor Val Kilmer, played a pivotal role in garnering mainstream attention for the efforts of the Native American Music Association to secure recognition by The Recording Academy for artists in this genre.
2002· Celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Last Waltz, Robertson and Scorsese provide newly edited, never-before-released elements from The Band's final performance. In addition to a theatrical re-release (United Artists), The Last Waltz is also available as a Special Edition DVD (MGM Home Entertainment) and four-CD boxed set (Warner Bros./Rhino). Robertson supervises the 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound DVD mix and painstakingly remixes and remasters the boxed set from the original multitrack masters.
Robertson performs in the Native American ceremonial spectacular at the opening ceremonies of the XIX Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. He composes new versions of two tracks especially for the event: "Making A Noise" and "Stomp Dance (Unity)" -- both from Contact From the Underworld Of Red Boy. The Five Nations Native American blessing of the athletes features "Coyote Dance," from Music For The Native Americans.
Reuniting with Scorsese on a new film project, Robertson serves as music supervisor on Gangs Of New York (Miramax), which features an ensemble cast that includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Slated for release July 2002, the film tells the story of New York City's early corruption and gang wars.
Create your own visitor map!
Just like so many of My Space’s abundant artists and struggling musicians I’m trying to get my music heard by a few new people. If you have spare moment (and my approach has not put you off) please do drop by for a quick listen - You might be glad that you did…
New friends would be welcomed and any feedback would be really appreciated and taken in – even if you think I should give it up and return to my day job!
Do you even KNOW how much we need a Robbie Robertson concert? Eric and Stevie played here a few months ago...and I started to think...who else would I REALLY LOVE to see tour out here. It was obvious.
I’m a singer/songwriter just trying to get my music heard - I appreciate I'm far from being the first musician on My Space to whore themselves on a more successful artists page like this, but if you do have a spare moment please take a listen – you might be glad you did and if you are not and we ever meet, I will buy you a beer for wasting your time!
Please also feel free to add me or leave any comments or feedback – I always respond.
I’m a singer/songwriter just trying to get my music heard - I appreciate how predictable I’m being in whoring myself on a more successful artist’s page, but if you do have a spare moment please do take a listen – You might be glad you did…
Please also feel free to add me or leave any comments or feedback – I always respond.
I’m a singer/songwriter just trying to get my music heard - I appreciate I'm far from being the first musician on My Space to whore themselves like this, but if you do have a spare moment please take a listen – you might be glad you did…
I’m a singer/songwriter just trying to get my music heard - I
appreciate how predictable I’m being in whoring myself on a more
popular page to try and gain new listeners, but if you do have a spare
moment please do take a listen – You might be glad you did…
Please also feel free to add me or leave any comments or feedback – I always respond.
I’m a singer/songwriter just trying to get my music heard -
I appreciate I'm not the first musician on My Space to whore themselves on a
more successful artists page to try and attract new listeners, but if you do
have a spare moment please take a listen – You might be glad you did…
Please also feel free to add me or leave any comments or
feedback – I always respond.
Once upon a time Dram Booker wandered into Studio 2. Though he maintains that he meant to be there, if you look back at the historical documents his check says he paid for time in Studio 1. Anyway, he tripped over a bunch of wires and fell flat on his ass, looked up and said, "Hey, you're Otis Gibson. Let's do a song."
That would be, "Hold A Guitar" pulled from the dusty archives. Now up in all its' analog glory. -OG-
I’m a singer/songwriter just trying to get my music heard - I appreciate I'm not the first musician to whore myself on a more successful artists page in the hope of attracting new listeners but if you do have a spare moment please take a listen – you might be glad you did…
Please also feel free to add me or leave any comments or feedback – I always respond.
I’m a singer/songwriter just trying to get my music heard - I appreciate I'm far from the first to make such an appeal on here but if you have a spare moment please take a listen – you might be glad you did!
Please also feel free to add me or leave any comments or feedback – I always respond.
Hadiyh Mr. Robertson, So'indgin? I pray that you, your family and loved ones are having a blessed day. I just wanted to stop by to let you know I just love your music. I am listening to your CD Music For The Native Americans. Take care and God bless. Keep safe. Donna
Thanksgiving is not a once a year event, but a daily assessment of all that we have to be grateful for... May your precious heart always know many reasons for Thanksgiving! Wishing you and yours Great Peace, True Love and Hope Eternal, this week and Always!!! With <3 and Much Gratitude, Fran
