Robbie Robertson, leader of The Band, dies aged 80

Robbie Robertson, guitarist and songwriter for Canadian-American radical The Band, has died aged 80.

A connection from his manager said helium died connected Wednesday surrounded by his household aft a agelong illness.

The Band were an influential enactment successful the precocious 1960s and besides the subjects of The Last Waltz, a 1978 Martin Scorsese movie astir their farewell concert.

Robertson wrote immoderate of their best-known songs, including The Weight and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.

Born Jaime Royal Robertson successful Toronto successful 1943, helium near location to prosecute a vocation successful euphony aged 16.

As good arsenic their ain music, The Band were known for a spell touring arsenic Bob Dylan's backing set earlier the occurrence of their 1968 debut album, Music From Big Pink.

They released a drawstring of acclaimed albums during the 1970s and, aft playing their past amusement arsenic a afloat set successful 1976, reunited without Robertson for a fig of tours and workplace releases passim the 1980s and 1990s.

Along with keyboardist Garth Hudson, Robertson was 1 of 2 surviving members of The Band's classical line-up.

After The Last Waltz, helium collaborated with Scorsese connected the soundtracks to immoderate of the director's best-known films, including 1980 classical Raging Bull and 2019's The Irishman.

Paying tribute, Scorsese called Robertson a "giant" and "a changeless successful my beingness and work."

"Long earlier we ever met, his euphony played a cardinal relation successful my beingness - maine and millions and millions of different radical each implicit this world," helium said. "His effect connected the creation signifier was profound and lasting."

Writing connected X, formerly known arsenic Twitter, Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood said: "Such bittersweet quality astir Robbie Robertson - helium was a beauteous man, a large person and volition beryllium dearly missed."

Stevie van Zandt, a subordinate of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, said Robertson was a "good friend" and "underrated superb guitar player".

Canadian vocalist Bryan Adams posted a photograph of Robertson and wrote: "Thanks for the astonishing euphony and the large hangs."