On Sunday, Ronnie Hawkins, the rockabilly legend who guided and mentored The Band, passed away. He was 87 years old when he died.
Hawkins’ wife Wanda confirmed his death to The Canadian Press news agency, and his daughter Leah informed The New York Times that he had been suffering from an undiagnosed ailment.
Hawkins brought Robertson down from Canada to the Mississippi Delta when he was 16 years old, according to The Band composer and guitarist Robbie Robertson, who paid tribute to him in a statement.
