Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Band’s Robbie Robertson has issued a statement honoring Ronnie “Hawk” Hawkins, who died Sunday at the age of 87.
Robertson and future members of the Band backed Hawkins in their formative years during the 1960s, before they toured with Bob Dylan and went on to become one of the most influential groups in rock history.
Robertson’s statement follows below in full.My heart sank when I heard “The Hawk” just flew into the sunset. The story of The Band began with Ronnie Hawkins.
He was our mentor. He taught us the rules of the road.Ronnie Hawkins brought me down from Canada to the Mississippi delta when I was 16.
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