b. Jaime Robbie Robertson, 5 July 1943, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Robertson's professional career began in 1960 when he replaced guitarist James Evans in Ronnie Hawkins' backing group, the Hawks. Robertson's rough, but exciting style prevails on several of Hawkins' releases, including "Matchbox", "Bo Diddley" and "Who Do You Love", the last of which boasts an arresting solo. The group then left Hawkins and by 1964 was barnstorming tiny American venues, firstly as the Canadian Squires, then as Levon And The Hawks. They recorded a handful of singles including Robertson's "The Stones I Throw", which showed the genesis of a remarkable compositional talent. The compulsive backing the Hawks had provided on sessions by blues singer John Hammond led to their association with Bob Dylan. Their emphatic drive underscored Robertson's raging guitar work and helped complete the one-time folk singer's transformation from acoustic sage to electric guru. Robertson's songwriting blossomed during their relationship. His lyrics assumed a greater depth, suggesting a pastoral America, while the music of the group, now dubbed simply the Band, drew its inspiration from a generation of rural styles, both black and white, as well as contemporary soul music peers. Such skill resulted in a body of work that, by invoking the past, created something familiar, yet original.

Listen to Robbie Robertson & The Red... at Finetune.

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• Ancestor Song
• The Vanishing Breed
• Twisted Hair

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• Robbie Robertson
• Robbie Robertson And The Red Road Ensemble
• Robbie Robertson Featuring The Six Nations Women Singers
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• R. Carlos Nakai
• Enya
• Bill Miller
• Spirit Keepers, Miramar
• Douglas Spotted Eagle
• Enigma
• Sacred Spirit
• Leonard Cohen
• Akon
• Robert Mirabal
• Deep Forest
• Pink Floyd
• Santana
• John Trudell

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