Richard Manuel

Richard Manuel had the voice that made other singers go quiet. A smoky, aching baritone that could lift into a fragile falsetto, it was the sound of The Band at its most soulful. His is also the saddest story in the group.

The soul voice

Manuel sang lead on “Tears of Rage,” “Whispering Pines,” “In a Station” and “I Shall Be Released,” channelling Ray Charles and the deep soul singers he loved. He played piano (and sometimes drums), and in the early years contributed to the writing. Bob Dylan and his own bandmates rated him among the finest singers they knew.

A long decline

Manuel struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for much of his adult life, and his songwriting and confidence faded as the years went on. On 4 March 1986, after a show with the reformed Band in Winter Park, Florida, he took his own life. He was 42. His death cast a long shadow over everyone who had played beside him.

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