First published 2016
Robbie Robertson chronicles his path from a mixed heritage childhood on the Six Nations Indian Reserve to becoming one of music's most influential songwriters. He details his teenage pilgrimage to the Mississippi Delta, the wild years touring with Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks, and the intense experience of backing Bob Dylan during his controversial electric tour in 1966. Robertson reveals how five young musicians formed The Band and created their distinctive sound through songs like "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." The narrative builds toward their famous farewell concert, The Last Waltz, captured in Martin Scorsese's film. Robertson weaves together personal memories with the broader story of rock and roll's evolution, describing encounters with legends from Buddy Holly to The Beatles. Written after five years of reflection on the 40th anniversary of The Last Waltz, this memoir captures the friendship and creative partnership that produced music still influencing artists today.
Genres: 20th-century, autobiography, biography-memoir, music, 21st-century, musicians
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, friendship, memoir
Setting: Mississippi Delta, Six Nations Indian Reserve
Period: 1966
500 pages · Hardcover · Crown Archetype