Ronnie Hawkins, Legendary Mentor For The Band, Original Frontman, Dies At 87

Ronnie Hawkins (Photo: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com)

RONNIE HAWKINS has died at the age of 87, according to a post by ROBBIE ROBERTSTON on THE BAND'S FACEBOOK page. HAWKINS was leader of the CANADIAN rock band RONNIE HAWKINS & THE HAWKS, which featured future members of THE BAND.

"The story of THE BAND began with RONNIE HAWKINS. He was our mentor. He taught us the rules of the road," wrote ROBERTSON of his mentor, who famously played with the group at "The Last Waltz," later made into a MARTIN SCORSESE documentary.

"HAWKINS himself was practically TORONTO's answer to ELVIS PRESLEY," THE BAND said on their website.

ROBERTSON went on to call RONNIE, "the godfather... The one who made this all happen. He had us rehearsing constantly into the wee hours. We balked about it, but we got better and better. Our goal whether we knew it or not."

"After the HAWKS left RON and went out on our own, we joined up with BOB DYLAN," wrote ROBERTSON. "Next THE HAWKS became THE BAND and the rest is history, as they say... All starting out with RONNIE HAWKINS."

Added ROBERTSON, "He was not only a great artist, a tremendous performer and bandleader, but had a style of humor unequaled. Fall down funny and completely unique. Yep, God only made one of those. And he will live in our hearts forever."

A cause of death was not revealed.

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