The past keeps catching up with Robbie Robertson.
Killing two birds with one stone, the legendary guitarist and songwriter from The Band, in town to receive the lifetime achievement award at the Aboriginal Achievement Awards tonight at the NAC, just happened to be around Bytown for his former employer Ronnie Hawkins' anniversary gig last night at Barrymore's.
For Robertson, it was 30 years of music making come full circle.
"Receiving this award brings me back to where it all started, at the reservation," said Robertson. "It brings me full circle. I'm paying tribute to my family."
POWER OF MUSIC
One of the best songwriters to come out of the 1960s, Robertson learned his craft on the Six Nations reserve for Canadian Natives near Brantford. There, playing music and storytelling were the primary forms of entertainment.
"We had no radio or television on the reservation. What was a sideline amusement in the city, playing music, was all we had. I learned the power of music early.
"I picked up the guitar when I was eight years old," he recalled. "If you wanted to be a part of the family, you had to play an instrument. I thought the guitar looked sexy."
Robertson was only 15 when he joined Rompin' Ronnie Hawkins' band with Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel. The Hawks, as they were called, left Hawkins in 1963 to form The Band.
Synthesizing folk and rock together for the first time, The Band became a global phenomenon, recording Music From Big Pink, The Band, Stage Fright and touring with Bob Dylan, before filming their swan song, their all-star concert movie The Last Waltz with renowned director Martin Scorsese.
Since leaving The Band, Robertson's recorded four solo albums as well as cut singles with Dylan, B.B. King, Ringo Starr, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and his old mentor, Hawkins.
CREATIVE FORCE
At age 60, Robertson remains a creative force. "I've got a lot of irons in the fire," he said proudly.
In addition to being a creative executive for Dreamworks -- Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen's entertainment empire -- Robertson is producing the digital remastering of The Last Waltz as well as a definitive The Band box set and DVD, due out in October.
Between projects, he continues to write music for a Native-American musical.
"I like doing what I'm doing and passing that experience on to the young artists," he said.
TOM JACKSON
Now in its 10th year, tonight's event is hosted by North of 60 star Tom Jackson with singer Susan Aglukark also scheduled to perform.
The annual awards show is the brainchild of Mohawk conductor John Kim Bell to honour artists, scientists, academics and business people who have made valuable contributions to Canada's Native communities.
In addition to being honoured, Robertson will perform Making a Noise, with singers Jackie Bird, Sadie Buck and Rita Coolidge.
