Best known as lead guitarist of the cult favorite The Band, Robertson and his fellow "Bandmembers" worked together for Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan before branching out on their own with their distinctive, driving synthesis of rock, folk, and jazz. After The Band's final performance together (recorded in Martin Scorsese's memorable 1978 "The Last Waltz"), Robertson moved into solo performing, record producing, and composing for films, including several collaborations with Scorsese (e.g., "The King of Comedy" 1983; "The Color of Money" 1986). Other credits include Wim Wenders' "Until the End of the World" (1991), Barry Levinson's "Jimmy Hollywood" (1994) and Jon Turletaub's "Phenomenon" (1996).
Robertson has also acted occasionally, making his debut as a jaded carnival barker in "Carny" (1980), which he also produced and co-authored the story. He also played a small supporting role in Sean Penn's "The Crossing Guard" (1995)
- Also Credited As:
James Robert Claygerman, Jamie Robbie Robertson
- Born:
July 5, 1944 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Job Titles:
Actor, Composer, Guitarist, Producer
Family
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Daughter: Alexandra Robertson. for Warner Chappell
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Daughter: Delphine Robertson.
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Mother: Rosemarie Robertson. Mohawk Indian; remarried a man named Robertson who adopted Robbie
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Son: Alexander Robertson.
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Son: Sebastian Robertson.
Significant Others
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Wife: Dominique Robertson. Canadian
Milestones
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1958 Recruited to play guitar for Ronnie Hawkins at age 15
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1963 Changed group name from Levon and the Hawks to the Crackers to the Canadian Squires
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1963 Robertson and Hawkins other group members (Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson) left to form own group
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1964 After hearing the band, singer John Hammond Jr. asked them to perform and record with him in New York, Chicago, and Texas
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1965 Bob Dylan hired them as his electrified backup band at his Forest Hills concert, August 28
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1966 After Dylan s motorcycle accident, group settled in Woodstock, NY and worked with him on informal recording sessions, eventually (1975) released as The Basement Tapes
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1968 Group changed its name to The Band, records first album, Music from Big Pink , in basement studio of their West Saugerties, NY, home
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1969 First concert as The Band at San Francisco s Winterland
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1976 Farewell concert in November at Winterland to celebrate official breakup of The Band (recorded in Martin Scorsese s 1978 documentary The Last Waltz )
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1976 Produced Neil Diamond s album, Beautiful Noise
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1980 Served as music arranger on Scorcese s Raging Bull
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1980 Starred in and composed part of the score for Robert Kaylor s film Carny
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1983 Composed score for Scorsese s The King of Comedy
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1986 Composed score for Scorsese s The Color of Money
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1987 First solo album, Robbie Robertson , released by Geffen Records
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1987 Music director and technical consultant on Taylor Hackford s film, Hail! Hail! Rock n Roll
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1995 Acted as music consultant on Scorcese s Casino
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1996 Supervised soundtrack on Phenomenon
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Played on Dylan s world tour