Richard Manuel (1943-1986) For clarification, this was recorded at a memorial service in Woodstock a couple of days after the funeral. It is not from the actual funeral.
This was NOT at the funeral service in Canada on Sunday March 9th. This was two days later at the Overlook Methodist Church just outside the village of Woodstock NY. I arranged this “Service of Remembrance” with the Lasher Funeral home. It was standing room only and it was for those who loved Richard who didn’t go to Canada for the funeral. My father and I sat with Rick and others got up to speak and tell stories to celebrate Richard’s life. Rick thought the service was going on a little too long and that’s when he got up to sing. As he said, there wasn’t plans to do so. It was the very end of the service. The date was Tuesday March 11, 1986.
This is so hard to listen to. You can hear how close Rick is to crying. And as the bassist of one of the greatest rhythm sections of all time, I think him struggling to keep the rhythm says a lot about how crushed he was about Richard's death. This was such a beautiful tribute to a lovely man and musician who left this earth way too early.
I’m sure he was not sober… I don’t blame him! Before anyone attacks me… he’s a relative. I’m sure I wouldn’t have been sober at my BFF’s funeral either!
Discovering this on 12.29.23 - Rick would have turned 80 today. His, Levon, Garth. Richard, Robbie, and Bob's music have been so important to my life for 55 years.
Richard was only 33 during The Last Waltz, literally already spending half his life on the Road. All of The Band were ancient souls.. RIP Boys, you’re forever missed, continue to inspire and are always within our hearts and minds. XOXOXO
Here reminiscing after the loss of Robbie today. What a healing force The Band's music has been to me throughout my life! I'm grateful that my father introduced me to real music as a child (of the '80s.) I can't help but think about how Garth must be feeling today.
Garth I'm sure is feeling lost and so was everyone else . It's hard for me to say this since as close as I ever got to the band was their music so all I've ever read , listened , or heard someone who actually knew them which many of the people I honestly thought knew what they were talking about since the stage and light jobs I worked was with a few people that where their training rodies so yea I got some insights on the Band Members and it was taken very hard by all members of the tight knit group and it simply reverberated thru all and questioners didn't have much sympathy for any of their private lives . As I read these comments other than the original comment by johnnycardboard was a sincere comment which a lot of your replies where way outta line , I mean read the comment and dont reply with such negativity i mean come on guys damn use that thing above your shoulders for something else other than rin & stimpy's cartoons and take a break since I don't know of one negative comment that has ever been givin about The Band just simply try to be human every now & then . Peace be with you all and anyone who comes here for the music and may everyone you hold close have peace in their lives as well !!!
It seems like we're rat's trying to get through a maze. When we go younger rat's replace us. But the younger rats don't know who Richard and Rick and Levon were. There in lies the tragedy. Not that we're gone, but that the people who got us through this mess aren't remembered.
This song became a silent partner to me from when I first heard it on 'Music from Big Pink' in 1968, Richard's plaintive voice tugging at my heart, like some forgotten child at its parent's clothes. Then during my incarceration in Brixton prison for stowing away from South Africa to England, merely 4 days before my 21st birthday, 15 November, 1969 while awaiting repatriation, it became a form of salvation for my sanity. Now here I sit, shortly before my 75th birthday, in my home in Durban SA, with the sad comfort of this masterpiece transporting me to a thousand memories, all held together by the strains of a tribute by a brother to the man who steeped us in its comfort while trying to dispel his own loss & sadness ❤
I feel what you mean I guess. Some say this was a too simple song from Dylan. But who on earth never felt the killing feeling of emprisonment and the longing for freedom. This applies to all of us & could be sung in any church mass, or in a mosque or a desert.
Richard Manuel was such a talented person...such a voice...in the "shape I'm in" shines...such a loss...could have done a giant work if remained on this side....great musician, rest in peace
I'm 66 years old, I grew up with The Band, & all the amazing music from back then, I am so thankful to have been brought up with all the important, beautiful music I was surrounded by. RIP, thank you for all the joy you brought to all of us with your music!!!
My cousin Gary served in Nam. He got me the brown album when I was in high school and I was hooked. Later, in the 80's, I was teaching at Marist in Poughkeepsie and went up to a small dinner club to attend one of the last of The Band's performances before they went to Florida. The dinner club had the word Texas in it. Before the performance Rick had a T-shirt table set up and we said hello to each other. When Richard sang he seemed lost, and Levon nodded affirmation-encouragement to him. I was not surprised when weeks later the news came about Richard. When they made the mold for The Band they put on a lock and threw away the key. They were one of the most unique creative artists of my generation. Thanks to all you guys who supported them
Luv Richard Manuel,recently watched a interview with Eric Clapton who talked about how much he loved Richard and how fragile he was but had this magical persona about him great interview, R.I.P Richard
I was attending a Bonnie Raitt concert at the Valley Forge Music Fair on the day that Richard died. Bonnie performed a tearful, heartfelt, and heartbreaking dedication to Richard that I will never forget. There were no dry eyes in the house.
Richard Manuel its been my favor singer all times, the deep power of his voice, the most sensitive approach for popular music. The first time I heard him, was in the incredible Lonesome Suzie who has been by my side all my life .... thanks Rick and friends.
@@jezebeljones659 yes it is Garth, I was told the only one that did not show up was Robbie. I am sensing nobody liked Robbie, might be the fact he took credit for everything including writing the songs. My own personal opinion after listening to interviews and the music, Robbie was the least talented singer and musician in the group.
@@inthegamepodcast6596 whatever else Robbie Robertson did, he is certainly not the least talented musician. He is the only one who had a succesful solo career. Who knows how the Band's songs were written, but Levon Helm barely wrote a song after leaving the Band. I suspect that Robertson wrote the songs and the rest of the guys worked on them and contributed here and there. Probably he should have given them more credit with the song writing. But we don't know.
As I hold back my tears, I wish Richard had gotten to live much longer. He could’ve done so much more. I hope he has a special mission in heaven! Rip to Robbie also as this is a few days after his passing so that’s why I thought I’d play it. Rip to Rick and Levon and other Richard as well!
I was there that day & Rick’s rendition was absolutely Heartbreaking! That’s Garth on the organ. Packed house, including Levon, with very few dry eyes in the house.
I was at the memorial for RICK at Bearsville Theater, and a lot of people got up and sang. Robbie even showed up to eulogize his friend, and it was a celebration of a life, rather than a sad day. Now we ve lost Robbie....
f, I just broke into tears. The Band has been one of my favorite bands since the late 70s when my older brother loaned me the cassette of greatest hits. Rest in Peace my friend.
The Band holds such a special place in my heart and I loved the playfulness and humility with which they came across. They were great to see live and I will .sure miss them all. Garth Hudson is the only one left living. In the early years Garth, who was classically trained, actually tutored his band mates
Oh My goodness, this is a beautiful but sad surprise. The photographs of Rick and Richard are priceless. It must've been really difficult to sing this without crying. You can hear it in Ricks voice that he had already been crying. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Its a shame what alcohol can do to you, this brings a tear to my eyes evertime I hear it. He should've lived on, nowadays I'm sure he would've found the help too. Just wasn't there at that particular time. Rick's voice is excellent here and if anyone could sing like Richard it would be Rick.
Robbie wrote in this book, how they all reliazed Richard had a problem, but back then they were not a lot of talk about rehabs, besided like Robbie wrote we were no angels, we all chasing demons, and the race was on.
I hung on every word in that film.. I'm sure, many still do. RIP those who've passed and Well Wishes to those still around.. "We just decided to call ourselves... The Band." -R.M
I bought the 3 record Last Waltz vinyl when it first came out.Richard's credits on the sleeve were longest of anyone:vocals,piano,organ, guitar,drums(in the second rhythm section),dobro,tenor sax.And a voice like no other.
Richard...loved music. Loved writing with the Band. Great piano player & vocalist. Too young to have left us. Yet his extensive musical contributions to the band's sound will live on. Rest in peace.
Saw The Band a few months before Rick passed. I was frightened by his appearance and voice. I just knew that he wasn’t long for the world. Rick and Richard deserved better.
Very heartfelt, I’m sorry for you loss, I’m sorry for all of us, who lost a little bit of our joy. We all lost something of an artist a talent who shared his light with the world.
a very very sad story.....the Band did Canada proud in particular s/w Ontario from whence Rick and Richard and Robbie and Garth were from and fate intervened somehow and Ronnie Hawkins along with Levon completed the puzzle....music from the 60`s and 70`s and 80`s will never rise up again the way it once did.....
Robbie was supposed to say the Eulogy, he wasn't there..that is why this was not planned, sung Beautifully Rick for your "brother" Richard. R.I.P. Richard, Rick, Levon. Brothers in each others arms once again
RIP Richard Thanks Rick - All of you and the other members of the Band (almost all together again) helped me through some very dark times. Thanks for everything.
And then some, read Robbie's book Testimony. I'm of that generation, we all tried to squeeze as much out of life as possible. I was not heavy into drugs, but did my share of partying, dating ect.
There is just something about Richard that draws me in. Can't explain it but I think he's beautiful in more than one way. If only he knew how many people adored him.
I started to listen to a rendition of The Weight put out by the folks at 'Playing For Change' whose work I normally really admire and enjoy, interestingly enough, I couldn't listen to their rendition of The Weight as recorded on the Bands album, Big Pink. It is just one of those tunes that the only way one can enjoy it is if it's the original, very telling, perhaps that's what makes a masterpiece.
