Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band

by Stephen T. Lewis

First and only bio of Manuel
Manuel's family involved in the book
Former Band members and close friends interviewed for the book
The Band is still considered one of the greatest and most influential rock groups of the last 50+ years

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography

400 pages, Hardcover

First published July 24, 2025

Reviews

[Suzanne]

Knowing Richard was going to die by his own hand made it tough to keep going, plus I was reading it as an ebook during breaks at work.

I got sick of Stephen T. Lewis telling readers how much success Richard Manuel had with women in the first half to three-quarters of the book. Not sure if this was because so many of the people interviewed talked about Mr. Manuel's prowess, or if it was some other reason.

Such a difficult life. So much substance abuse. So sad. I wonder how his children, his mother and siblings, his widow and ex-wife are doing. Sometimes books end with this kind of info, but other than his son, Josh, forming an educational award in his dad's name, nothing was said.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen T. Lewis's 'Richard Manuel: His Life & Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band' is a captivating journey into the life of an extraordinary musician whose influence transcends generations. As someone born after Manuel's time, I found myself deeply immersed in the rich tapestry of stories and insights that Lewis masterfully weaves together. The book offers an intimate look at Manuel's artistry, struggles, and the profound impact he had on his bandmates and collaborators. Lewis's meticulous research and vivid storytelling bring Richard Manuel's legacy to life, making it a must-read for any fan of The Band. This book not only deepened my appreciation for Manuel's contributions but also filled me with a sense of connection to an era I never experienced. A truly remarkable read that I wholeheartedly recommend.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s a well put together biography, that being said the author was lacking…between the way he spoke about women to just being plain boring. the book was 400 pages there was a lot to write about when it came to richard, how can i be bored?? why so much filler?? while the author started out trying not to sound biased when it came towards robbie, about halfway it turned, and that put a bad taste in my mouth as well.

[Rob Dekker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen T Lewis opens his biography of Richard Manuel and The Band in Stratford in the fall of 1985. I remember that moment in the life of Richard Manuel and his band mates clearly. I was a Radio host in Stratford at that time and was given the best opportunity of my then brief career in Radio had afforded me.

CJCS is the local radio station and we were given the time to interview The Band before their show, it could have been after a rehearsal but I cannot be clear on that fact. I was given the opportunity to do the interview, and I was joined by the Sales Manager, a huge music fan.

As a fan of The Band I was so excited to be doing this interview.

The memories of that day came back as soon as I read the first page of the book.

Lewis does a great job of exploring the life and musical adventures of Stratford native Richard Manuel.

This is a beautifully written book and it is also a beautiful book. High gloss paper, loads of photos and detailed accounts of the music, the performances, the musicians and the roads travelled by The Revols, The Hawks, and The Band.

This account of Richard Manuel will make you smile, laugh, worry and cry. Lewis gives us the story of Manuel that you won’t read in any of the books written by Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm.

Lewis does his due diligence in giving an account of the life The Band had with Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan. His description of the music took me to pulling records out and streaming the music.

After that interview in November 1985 (there were no photos taken) I took the tape and created a one hour program on The Band. I don’t know where the cassette tape of that interview or the reel tape of the special went are, I am thankful to have read this book to bring these memories back.

Reading this was magical for me and is the best book I have read in 2025. I will proudly display Lewis’s “Richard Manuel” beside Elton John “Me”, “Storyteller” by David Grohl, Bernie Taupin’s book “Scattershot” and Robbie Robertson’s “Testimony “.

This book is a music lover’s dream read!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite vocalists of all time was Richard Manuel, who voice was one of the few I have ever encountered which could send chills throughout my entire body. His rendition of "I Shall Be Released"ranks in the highest echelon of vocal accomplishments. The Band appeared on the scene in the 1960's and changed my perception of music up to that time. This book does an extremely effective job of carrying one back to those times and describes in detail the evolution of this group of remarkable, bt flawed musicians. The author's obvious love and knowledge of the music is educational in itself. Unfortunately, it is a story of rise and fall with an almost Shakespearian ending for Richard Manuel, one more victim of what Lena Dunham called "Famesick" in her recent memoir. Richard was one of those gentle geniuses who was almost too pure to survive in this world. He fought his own self doubt with alcohol and drugs, but ultimately lost a fight he could never win. If you read this book, you will never think about him or The Band in the same way. Highly recommended read.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book hoping to gain a deeper understanding of Richard Manuel’s life, and in that respect it largely succeeds. The author uncovers personal and professional details that were new to me and added meaningful context to Manuel’s story.

That said, the book is weighed down by excessive filler—particularly repetitive, song-by-song breakdowns of live performances. These sections often add little insight, reiterating the same observations about the band members in slightly different language, and disrupt the narrative flow. Trimming this material would have made for a tighter, more focused biography.

Despite these shortcomings, the book ultimately delivered what I was looking for: a fuller picture of Richard Manuel beyond what I already knew. For readers primarily interested in his life rather than exhaustive performance analysis, the core material is still worth the read.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The impact and legacy of The Band rise above the self-destructive behaviours, booze and dope.

[Kevin Monsell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well intended detailed book about an artist that passed tragically too soon. Also a book that needs to read as an actual book and not electronically. It’s an actual beautiful book.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about the life and career of Richard Manuel. One of the greatest musicians ever IMO. Just bummed at how things ended for him at a young age. The Band is still one of my favorite listens.