Musician Robbie Robertson of The Band dies at 80

Musician Robbie Robertson arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Robertson, the lead guitarist and songwriter for The Band, whose classics include 'The Weight', 'Up on Cripple Creek' and 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down', has died at 80, according to a statement from his manager. — Photo: AP

Robbie Robertson, guitarist and main songwriter of the seminal rock group The Band, has died, the trade publication Variety said Wednesday, citing his manager. He was 80 years old.

As the ringleader of the Canadian-American group, Robertson penned The Band's most iconic songs including The Weight, The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down and Up On Cripple Creek.