The group – Rick Danko on bass , violin and vocals , Levon Helm on drums , mandolin and vocals , Garth Hudson on organ , synthesizer , accordian , and saxophone , Richard Manuel on piano , percussion and vocals , and guitarist Robbie Robertson as principal songwriter – started out in the late 1950s as a rock and roll band led by Ronnie Hawkins , and Hawkins himself appears as the first guest .
Garth Hudson played the accordion at The Last Waltz concert .