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

by Stephen T. Lewis

For the first time, the Band's legendary Richard Manuel's compositions and performances are analyzed with expert commentary while shining a light on his contributions to all of his bands—and on the undeniable impact he had on rock music.
Richard Manuel was a fearless original. Sweetly soulful as a vocalist and endearingly creative as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, he was a vital part of some of rock 'n' roll's pivotal moments, including Bob Dylan's controversial move to electric music, Woodstock 1969, and the legendary Last Waltz.
Through thoughtful research and analysis, this book places Manuel's troubled yet inspired spirit within a musical and historical context.
For the first time, Manuel's compositions and performances are critiqued with expert commentary—alongside new interviews with family, friends, and fellow musicians, including Eric Clapton and Van Morrison.
The story traces Manuel's journey from Stratford, Ontario, to Woodstock, New York, and beyond, beginning with his first band, the Revols, then singing the blues with Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Garth Hudson in the Hawks, the group that would later become the Band.
Manuel's influence was profound, his distinctive vocals infusing songs with emotion and depth. His songwriting flourished in classics like "Tears of Rage," cowritten with Dylan, and "We Can Talk." His keyboard work added a lovable funkiness to the Band's sound, blending elements of rock, folk, country, and blues into what would become the genesis of Americana.
Despite the Band's successes, Manuel struggled with personal demons, battling addiction and inner turmoil. Looking beyond his human frailty, this book celebrates Richard Manuel's immeasurable contributions to music, ensuring that memories of his voice and artistry endure.

Genres: Music

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 24, 2025

Reviews

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.