Who Were The Members Of The Band?

The Band members ages are 1. Levon Helm (71) 2. Robbie Robertson (80) 3. Rick Danko (55) 4. Richard Manuel (42). The age ranges from early 40s to the mid-80s.

Garth Hudson is 85 years old currently. For more clarity, here is a list of the birth dates of the original 5-membered group The Band:

The Band members names are 1. Levon Helm 2. Robbie Robertson 3. Rick Danko 4. Richard Manuel 5. Garth Hudson. Several artists joined and left the group.

Some of the past members include Mickey Jones, Jim Weider, Stan Szelest, Randy Ciarlante, and Richard Bell among a few others.

Levon Helm

Levon Helm was adept in playing several musical instruments such as guitar, drums, percussion, and mandolin besides his soothing vocals.

Unfortunately, the Grammy Award winner breathed his last in New York on 19 April 12, 2012.

Robbie Robertson

Robbie Roberston was the lead guitarist and lyricist of The Band. He is pursuing a solo career currently. 

The inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also serves as a film composer, writer, producer, and actor.

Robertson just turned 80 and his fans have flooded social media with birthday wishes for the legendary artist.

Rick Danko

Rick Danko served as the bassist, fiddler, guitarist, and singer for the musical group. 

After the group split for the first time in 1977, Danko solely launched an eponymous album that consisted of 10 tracks.

It featured all his bandmates despite being a solo project. On the 10th of December 1999, at 55, the singer passed away leaving an irreplaceable void to the music world.

Richard Manuel

Widely recognized as one of the principal singers of The Band, Manuel had proficiency in piano as well.

Due to his effortless charm and magnetism, people often compared him to Father of the Soul Music, Ray Charles.

Although Richard's life was short-lived, he had an illustrious career.

Garth Hudson

Garth Hudson is one of the two members of the group who are still with us, besides Robbie. 

Garth used to perform primarily as a keyboardist and saxophonist.

The eldest in the group was last seen at the Flower Hill House Concert No. 6 organized by singer Sarah Perrotta. He not only made an attendance but sang 'Sophisticated Lady' and astonished everybody.

The Band was formed in 1967 as a five-piece group. After splitting in 1977, the rock ensemble reunited again in 1983 and remained together until 1999.

They catapulted to immense fame during the beginning 6 years of their career. Turning back the pages of history, it is evident that the formation of this influential band happened after the departure of the Hawks from Ronnie Hawkins & the Hawks.

Levon, Robbie, Rick, Richard, and Garth were the Hawks who accompanied Hawkins as a backing band from 1959 to 1963. On account of the clash in personality, they left Ronnie and joined American musical icon, Bob Dylan in 1965.

After leaving Ronnie, the backup band went through several name changes like Levon & the Hawks, and Canadian Squires. Finally, in 1967, they became The Band that we know now.

Their debut album titled 'Music From Big Pink' saw the light of day in 1968, followed by The Brown Album in 1969.

The Band is from Toronto, the capital city of Ontario, Canada. Levon Helm was the only artist in the group hailing from Arkansas, America.

But not all of the remaining members were from the same location in Canada. Below is a list of the member's native land:

1. Robbie Robertson - Toronto Canada
2. Levon Helm - Elaine, Arkansas
3. Rick Danko - Norfolk County, Canada
4. Richard Manuel - Stratford, Canada
5. Garth Hudson - Windsor, Canada

In 1989 the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) gave tribute to the musical group by inducting them into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Likewise, they were recognized by Canada's Walk of Fame in 2014.

The Band Albums in order contain 1. Music from Big Pink 2. The Band 3. Stage Fright 4. Cahoots and more. Moondog Matinee, Islands, and Jericho, are also on the list.

The distinguishing factor of the rock band was their ability to efficiently fuse the element of blues, country, folk, jazz, R&B, classical, and gospel whilst creating an eccentric collection of songs.

Their first collection of audio recordings did not sound amateur, rather it sounded professional and unique compared to other records from that era.

Even John Simon, the American music producer praised their newest collection stating that it sounded more like an album launched by seasoned artists at their best.

It sold around 500,000 copies in the United States of America, and 60,000 in the United Kingdom. However, their best-selling record is 'The Band' with more than 1 million copies sold worldwide.

In addition, the Candadian-American rock band launched 9 live, 10 compilations, and 8 video albums. They also collaborated with Bob Dylan which resulted in the formation of 2 live and 2 studio albums.

Let's take a look at the quintet's live albums:

• Rock of Ages - August 15, 1972
• The Last Waltz - April 7, 1978
• Live at Watkins Glen - April 4, 1995
• The Last Waltz - April 16, 2002
• Live in Tokyo 1983 - March 30, 2010
• Live at the Academy of Music 1971 - September 17, 2013
• Carter Barron Amphitheater Washington DC - June 24, 2014
• Palladium Circles: The Classic NYC Broadcast - March 10, 2015
• And Then There Were Four: FM Broadcast, Chicago - October 16, 2015

The Band most popular songs are 1. The Weight 2. It Makes No Difference 3. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and more.

These are the 8 songs of The Band's famous songs that were also able to get a spot on the Billboard Hot 100:

Throughout their tenure, the quintet successfully gave classic masterpieces that are relevant even today. Tracks such as Whispering Pines, Stage Fright, The Shape I’m In, and Acadian Driftwood are loved and cherished by fans even today.

The Canadian-American band released 33 singles, with 'Uh-Uh-Uh' as the first, followed by 'Leave Me Alone' and 'The Stones I Throw'.

The Weight

The Weight is a single from 'Music from Big Pink, which was written by the lyrical genius, Robbie Robertson.

Aptly named, it encapsulates how one feels when they carry the massive weight of responsibility or guilt on their shoulder.

It Makes No Difference

This is a beautiful heart-wrenching song from Northern Lights-Southern Cross vocalized by the talented Rick Danko. Anybody who is dealing with loss and grief can tune into this song and cry their heart out.