Description
Rock and Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story is a 40-page picture book about the Mohawk/Jewish musician Robbie Robertson. Told through the storytelling of his son Sebastian Robertson, this biography traces the early childhood of Robbie from his introduction to music as played by his Mohawk relatives at Six Nations of the Grand River to his big break into the music industry with legendary Ronnie Hawkins. Through the remarkable images created in oils by book illustrator Adam Gustavson, the story takes the reader to key episodes in singer-songwriter Robbie Robertson's life story. These key moments include Robbie's first guitar, practicing endlessly until his fingers bleed, listening to the radio, creating his first band, travelling to New York city, meetings with Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan, forming the backup band later known as simply, The Band, and his development as an outstanding musician, and rise to fame, finally ending in the mid-1970s with the Band's final performance. The unique sound of The Band is steadily built through the events and images of these key episodes. The book notes include a chronological timeline, black and white family photos, and a question and answer piece between father and son creating a highly recommended picture book for junior/intermediate students with an interest in music and First Nation biography. Because this book is published in the United States terms such as reservation and Indian are used occasionally.