Last Waltz: The Full Story of The Band

(Hardback)

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Craig Harris dives deeply into The Band, including the myths and confusions surrounding its members, and provides a wide-ranging account from their very beginnings with Ronnie Hawkins, collaboration with Bob Dylan, to the present.

A half-century after The Bands original lineup, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson, and Levon Helm played together for a final time at a star-studded concertthe Last Waltzon Thanksgiving 1976. The groups blend of folk, blues, country, Dixieland, and rock n roll is revered as a root of Americana music.

Harris interweaves original and previously unpublished interviews with the late Robertson, Danko, and Hawkins, as well as producer/sideman Aaron Professor Louie Hurwitz, drummer Rick Ciarlante, the Helm Bands Larry Campbell and his wife Teresa Williams, and others. Recordings, concerts, festivals, film appearances, Robertsons soundtracks for Martin Scorsese, and others are assessed closely. But this isnt just a story celebrating the groups countless hits, successes, and victories. Despite their lasting influence, The Bands journey was far from smooth. Drug and alcohol abuse, poor health, bankruptcies, and bitter conflicts over songwriting credits took their toll. Craig Harris looks at it all.

Reviews

From their beginning as Ronnie Hawkins' Hawks and Bob Dylans electric backup through their illustrious years as The Band and solo, Craig Harriss Last Waltz: The Full Story of The Band digs under every stone to uncover myth-breaking details and hits it right on the nail. -- Fred Scribner * guitarist, the Levon Helm Band, Little Sammy *
Nothing is held back as Last Waltz: The Full Story of The Band unravels the complicated saga of this ensemble and its members. Unpublished interviews and intensive research give perspective to this comprehensive study. -- Thomas TJ Colatrella * Woodstock, NY-based singer-songwriter *

Author Bio

Craig Harris is a music historian, educator, storyteller, percussionist, photographer, radio show host, and author of six books. A skilled percussionist, he has appeared onstage with C. J. Chenier, Greg Brown, Jonathan Edwards, Rod MacDonald, Melanie, Mustards Retreat, Merl Saunders, Rick Danko (The Band), and Los Texmaniacs. He co-hosts the Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour on the DreamVisions7 Radio Network and hosts The Craig Harris Show on Washington, DCs Bluegrass Country/WAMU-FM.