Testimony

With songs like "The Weight" and "Up on Cripple Creek," songwriter/guitarist Robbie Robertson and his partners in the Band introduced a music lexicon, one soaked in the mythology of the Old South, that has influenced countless musicians. In this remarkable memoir, Robertson weaves together his rollicking years with rockabilly Ronnie Hawkins; the Band’s formation and trial-by-fire supporting Bob Dylan on his ’66 world tour, and the cloistered sessions leading to their unique sound. He recounts catapulting to fame and takes us through the astonishing album run that culminated in The Last Waltz farewell concert.__Testimony__is the story of seismic 1960s change, of how Dylan and the Band redefined culture, and of the profound friendship between five men who created music that still fascinates us. In This Captivating Memoir, Robbie Robertson Shares The Journey That Led Him To Some Of The Most Pivotal Events In Music History. Robertson And His Partners In The Band Fashioned A Music That Has Endured For Decades, Influencing Countless Musicians. One Of The Most Beloved Songwriters And Guitarists Of His Time, Now He Employs His Storyteller's Voice To Weave Together The Journey That Led Him To Some Of The Most Pivotal Events In Music History. It's The Story Of A Time When Rock 'n' Roll Became Life, When Music Legends Moved Through The Same Streets And Hotel Rooms, And Above All, The Profound Friendship Among Five Young Men Who Together Created A New Kind Of Popular Music. Robbie Robertson's Singular Contributions To Popular Music Have Made Him One Of The Most Beloved Songwriters And Guitarists Of His Time. With Songs Like 'the Weight,' 'the Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,' And 'up On Cripple Creek,' He And His Partners In The Band Fashioned Music That Has Endured For Decades, Influencing Countless Musicians. In This Captivating Memoir, Written Over Five Years Of Reflection, Robbie Robertson Employs His Unique Storyteller's Voice To Weave Together The Journey That Led Him To Some Of The Most Pivotal Events In Music History. He Recounts The Adventures Of His Half-jewish, Half-mohawk Upbringing On The Six Nations Indian Reserve And On The Gritty Streets Of Toronto; His Odyssey At Sixteen To The Mississippi Delta, The Fountainhead Of American Music; The Wild Early Years On The Road With Rockabilly Legend Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks; His Unexpected Ties To The Cosa Nostra Underworld; The Trial By Fire Of 'going Electric' With Bob Dylan On His 1966 World Tour, And Their Ensuing Celebrated Collaborations; And The Formation Of The Band And The Forging Of Their Unique Sound, Culminating With History's Most Famous Farewell Concert, Brought To Life For All Time In Martin Scorsese's Great Movie The Last Waltz. This Is The Story Of A Time And Place--the Moment When Rock 'n' Roll Became Life, When Legends Like Buddy Holly And Bo Diddley Crisscrossed The Circuit Of Clubs And Roadhouses From Texas To Toronto, When The Beatles, Hendrix, The Stones, And Warhol Moved Through The Same Streets And Hotel Rooms. It's The Story Of Exciting Change As The World Tumbled Through The '60s And Early '70s, And A Generation Came Of Age, Built On Music, Love, And Freedom. Above All, It's The Moving Story Of The Profound Friendship Among Five Young Men Who Together Created A New Kind Of Popular Music. Testimony Is Robbie Robertson's Story, Lyrical And True, As Only He Could Tell It.--dust Jacket. Robbie Robertson. "On the fortieth anniversary of The Band's legendary The Last Waltz concert, Robbie Robertson finally tells his own spellbinding story of the band that changed music history, his extraordinary personal journey, and his creative friendships with some of the greatest artists of the last half-century. Robbie Robertson's singular contributions to popular music have made him one of the most beloved songwriters and guitarists of his time. With songs like "The Weight", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", and "Up on Cripple Creek", he and his partners in The Band fashioned music that has endured for decades, influencing countless musicians. In this captivating memoir, written over five years of reflection, Robbie Robertson employs his unique storyteller's voice to weave together the journey that led him to some of the most pivotal events in music history. He recounts the adventures of his half-Jewish, half-Mohawk upbringing on the Six Nations Indian Reserve and on the gritty streets of Toronto; his odyssey at sixteen to the Mississippi Delta, the fountainhead of American music; the wild, early years on the road with rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks; his unexpected ties to the Cosa Nostra underworld; the gripping trial-by-fire "going electric" with Bob Dylan on his 1966 world tour, and their ensuing celebrated collaborations; the formation of The Band and the forging of their unique sound, culminating with history's most famous farewell concert, brought to life for all time in Martin Scorsese's great movie The Last Waltz. This is the story of a time and place - the moment when rock 'n' roll became life, when legends like Buddy Holly and Bo Diddley crisscrossed the circuit of clubs and roadhouses from Texas to Toronto, when The Beatles, Hendrix, The Stones, and Warhol moved through the same streets and hotel rooms. It's the story of exciting change as the world tumbled through the '60s and early '70s, and a ge "Robbie Robertson's singular contributions to popular music have made him one of the most beloved songwriters and guitarists of his time. With songs like "The Weight," "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," and "Up on Cripple Creek," he and his partners in The Band fashioned a music that has endured for decades, influencing countless musicians. In this captivating memoir, written over five years of reflection, Robbie Robertson employs his unique storyteller?s voice to weave together the journey that led him to some of the most pivotal events in music history. He recounts the adventures of his half-Jewish, half-Mohawk upbringing on the Six Nations Indian Reserve and on the gritty streets of Toronto; his odyssey at sixteen to the Mississippi Delta, the fountainhead of American music; the wild early years on the road with rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks; his unexpected ties to the Cosa Nostra underworld; the gripping trial-by-fire "going electric" with Bob Dylan on his 1966 world tour, and their ensuing celebrated collaborations; the formation of the Band and the forging of their unique sound, culminating with history's most famous farewell concert, brought to life for all time in Martin Scorsese's great movie The Last Waltz. This is the story of a time and place--the moment when rock 'n' roll became life, when legends like Buddy Holly and Bo Diddley criss-crossed the circuit of clubs and roadhouses from Texas to Toronto, when The Beatles, Hendrix, The Stones, and Warhol moved through the same streets and hotel rooms. It's the story of exciting change as the world tumbled through the '60s and early 70?s, and a generation came of age, built on music, love and freedom. Above all, it's the moving story of the profound friendship between five young men who together created a new kind of popular music.Testimony is Robbie Robertson?s story, lyrical and true, as only he could tell it."--Amazon.com With songs like "The Weight" and "Up on Cripple Creek," songwriter/guitarist Robbie Robertson and his partners in the Band introduced a music lexicon, one soaked in the mythology of the Old South, that has influenced countless musicians. In this remarkable memoir, Robertson weaves together his rollicking years with rockabilly Ronnie Hawkins; the Band’s formation and trial-by-fire supporting Bob Dylan on his ’66 world tour, and the cloistered sessions leading to their unique sound. He recounts catapulting to fame and takes us through the astonishing album run that culminated in The Last Waltz farewell concert. Testimony is the story of seismic 1960s change, of how Dylan and the Band redefined culture, and of the profound friendship between five men who created music that still fascinates us.