He was a rockabilly guy from Arkansas in the late 1950's. He landed a gig at a club in Canada and travelled north with his band The Hawks. His drummer was Levon Helm. One by one, other band members left his employ. As they did, they were replaced by local young musicians. Robbie Robertson on guitar, Rick Danko on bass. Richard Manuel on keyboards, Garth Hudson on organ.
As a unit, they caught the attention of John Hammond, Jr - son of the legendary Columbia executive and a blues artist in his own right. He did some sessions with them. From that connection they caught the attention of Bob Dylan who was looking toughen up his sound. They toured Europe with him and played at the much bootlegged (and much mislabeled) Royal Albert Hall concert in 1966.
When the Dylan gigs ended with a still suspicious motor cycle accident, they holed up with Dylan at Big Pink in West Saugerties, New York. They worked up some of their own material and were re-christened as The Band.
The result is a bunch of Canadians giving us back our Americana - Much like the Brits giving us back our blues.
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