Thanks for this Jon. The influence of The Band was massive, and continues to be so. Danko, like most of The Band, was a talented multi-instrumentalist who just happened to be playing the bass on most of their songs. I've kept up with Levon Helm's career, still great. Robbie Robertson less so. Don't really know what happened to Garth Hudson.
I've always thought that one of the many interesting things about them was their backgrounds. Although they sounded and looked like a southern USA outfit, they were all, bar Helm, Canadians.
Well Jon, your book extract has made me dig out 'The Big Pink' again for a listen. Thanks!