Legendary rocker Robbie Robertson - who backed Bob Dylan and made The Band one of the biggest acts of the 1960s and 1970s - has died aged 80.
The Canadian guitarist, whose songs include The Weight and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, died in Los Angeles.
His manager said: “Robbie was surrounded by his family at the time of his death”.
Robertson was one of four Canadians with Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson who joined American drummer Levon Helm in the group that became famous backing Dylan as he dumped acoustic folk and went electric with a vengence on tracks including Like A Rolling Stone.
The Band, who regularly swapped instruments and lead vocals between them, struck out on their own with albums like Music from Big Pink and The Band in the late 1960s.
They mixed country, folk, rock and soul and practically invented Americana in the process with songs that harked back to American history such as the civil war anthem The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Up on Cripple Creek and King Harvest (Has Surely Come).
The Band finally called in a day in 1976 with a star-studded concert with guests including Dylan , Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison and Muddy Waters that was filmed as The Last Waltz by Martin Scorsese.
Despite years of rows over money and song-writing credits, Robertson looked back at his Band mates with love and affection.
“Through all the turbulence, I am left with such a deep appreciation for my journey,” he wrote in his autobiography.
“This shining path I’ve traveled being part of the Band - there will never be another like it. Such a gift, such talent, such pain, such madness ... I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
