Robbie Robertson was the guitarist and songwriter for The Band, a group whose importance greatly exceeded their sales. Clapton left Cream after hearing Music from Big Pink; Harrison became unhappy with the Beatles after visiting them in upstate New York; Jerry Garcia modelled his singing after Rick Danko’s; any and every “Americana” band owes them an immense debt; it goes on and on. Robbie was also my favorite guitar player from the moment in 1972 when I bought “Rock of Ages” through my mid twenties. He may (or may not) have treated the other members particularly well post-“Last Waltz” but he and his band were a fundamental force in rock and roll, whether you know it or not.
