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The Band

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Band was a Canadian-American rock group from Toronto, with Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson, all four Canadian, and the American drummer Levon Helm. From 1958 to 1963 they were called The Hawks, the backing band of the rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins. In the mid-1960s they became known as Bob Dylan's first electric band, on his 1966 tour. After that they continued under the name The Band.

Music and breakthrough

In 1968 the debut Music from Big Pink appeared, followed in 1969 by The Band, both received with great praise. Well-known songs include The Weight, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Up on Cripple Creek. Later came Stage Fright (1970), Cahoots (1971), the live album Rock of Ages (1972), the covers album Moondog Matinee (1973) and Northern Lights, Southern Cross (1975). On 25 November 1976 the group gave a farewell concert, which Martin Scorsese released in 1978 as the film The Last Waltz. In 1983 Danko, Hudson, Helm and Manuel got back together without Robertson. After Manuel's death in 1986 and Danko's in 1999, the band stopped.

Influence

The music combines americana, folk, rock, R&B, jazz and country, with the vocals of Helm, Danko and Manuel alternating and complementing one another. Roger Waters called their debut one of the most influential records in rock history. They influenced, among others, George Harrison, Eric Clapton and the Grateful Dead.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to The Weight and notice how different singers take turns singing the verses and how the piano and the organ keep the song at an unhurried tempo.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists