Happy Birthday Robbie Robertson: Performing With The Band In 1970

Born Jaime Royal Robertson in Toronto on this date in 1943, the Canadian guitarist and founding member of seminal rock group The Band known as Robbie Robertson celebrates his 73rd birthday today. A renowned performer and composer involved in such classics at “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “The Weight,” “It Makes No Difference,” “Up On Cripple Creek” and many others, Robertson and his mates in The Band were iconoclasts of rock music who cultivated an authentic and singular sound on their way to a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame career. For Robbie’s 73rd today, here’s a look back at footage from a concert The Band held in the fall of 1970.

Touring in support of their third studio album Stage Fright which had come out in August 1970, Robertson and his band mates Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson appeared at Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh on November 1, 1970. The color footage of the live concert includes the Stage Fright track “Time To Kill” showcasing a Robetson guitar solo, along with two of the aforementioned The Band classics, “The Weight” and “Up On Cripple Creek,” and the Helm led “This Wheel’s On Fire.” Watch the four-song feature below:

In November, Robertson will release a memoir titled Testimony detailing his storied career backing legends Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan as well as the formation of The Band and their time together through his final performance with the group at The Last Waltz nearly 40 years ago. The 336-page Testimony is currently available for pre-order via a number of online retailers.