The Band

 The Band is a Canadian band that formed in the late 1950's as a backup band for a singer named Ronnie Hawkins called The Hawks.  After a few years the guys were sick of Hawkins' controlling ways and split The Hawks.  Things would turn around for them a few years later when a man by the named John P. Hammond, who recorded them as The Hawks recommended them to be Bob Dylan's backup band, and they both agreed.  Some of Dylan's most famous concerts consisted of The Band as his backup group. Along with touring with him, some of the members recorded on one of his finest albums, Blonde on Blonde.  A couple years later Dylan was in a motorcycle accident and had to take a break causing The Band to play small gigs.  Dylan would then invite them to stay with him while he recovered.  The Band would record some bootleg tapes (finally released as an album) with Dylan, land a record deal, move into a pink house/studio and record their first album, Music from Big Pink.  Though at the time of it's release the album did not include a hit, but was a big hit with critics, as well as their second album, simply titled, The Band.  From their The Band would do a lot of touring and recorded a couple more albums.  They would reunite with Dylan for another year and then release their first album with new material in 5 years.  At this time guitarist Robbie Robertson was getting tired of touring.  So they did a farewell concert called The Last Waltz which was filmed by the legend Martin Scorsese and included several guest appearances.  Shortly after The Band would break up and Robbie Robertson would never return. In 1983 the band reunited with a tour, but tragic struck them.  After a concert in the hotel original Band member Richard Manuel hung himself inside his hotel room.  Since then another original member has passed on, leaving three members alive.  There has not been any talks of The Band getting back together.

Music from big pink - 1968     The Band - 1969     Stage fright - 1970     Cahoots - 1971

Rock of ages - 1972     Moondog matinee - 1973     Northern lights - Southern cross - 1975

Islanders - 1977     The last waltz - 1978     Jericho - 1993     High on the hog - 1996

Jubilation - 1998      Ideal Compilation - SG

Scott's Music Library