What band? The Band! Yes, the musical group known as The Band will play tonight at C.Y. Stephens Auditorium.

The Band is a group that has a history that dates back to the 1960s and continues its musical madness into the 90s. Hear the guys’ sound right here in Ames, and then watch them on your tube next month as musical guests on Jay Leno.

In the 60s, four Canadians and an American got their start as an opening ensemble for the touring Ronnie Hawkins. The five original members, Robbie Robertson, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Levon Helm, grew up intrigued by American Southern life and the values and heritage of the South.

In the evening, these Canadians could pick up soundwaves from country radio in the Deep South. Their late-night listening influenced the unique music these groove machines produced and called their own. Their sonic sound deviated from the trendy blends popular with other bands of the time.

After touring with Ronnie Hawkins, The Band toured with Bob Dylan around North America, Australia and Europe in late 1965 and into ’66. Two years later, the group put together its first album, Music From Big Pink, produced out of Woodstock, N.Y.

The Band produced other albums in various parts of the country, including California and then once again in Woodstock. In California, the Band rented a big house from Sammy Davis Jr., and converted the poolhouse into the recording studio for its second album. Then came a third album and a fourth, Cahoon, which Van Morrison co-wrote. He also sang vocals for one of the tunes. Later collections and singles followed, including one compilation made of live performances and another one comprised of oldies.

In 1978, The Band played at the Watkins Glen Festival in upstate New York, playing the second act of three between musical phenomenons The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers. An expected 150,000 bodies became an unexpected 600,000. The controllable-event-turned-monster-size phenomenon was two days of groovy tunes enjoyed by many (many) music-hungry fans.

The original members of The Band played their final show together in San Francisco at Thanksgiving at Wonderland. They invited a long list of musicians, who had an impact or contact with the group over the years, to accompany them. The list of performers included Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Hawkins and Neil Diamond. Martin Scorsese made a picture film about the program released by Warner Brothers in 1978.

In the early ’80s, random shows by Danko, Helm and Hudson could be enjoyed in various bars and clubs.

The Band of 1996 includes three new members, due to the loss of Robertson and Manuel. The other three, Danko, Helm and Hudson, are survivin’ and thrivin’ with the three additional men. Jim Weider is the guitar man filling Robertson’s shoes, and Randy Ciarlante is the drummer and vocalist. Benching it as the pianist is Richard Bell, former piano man for Janice Joplin’s Tilt and Boogie Band.

A group with this rich background shouldn’t be anything but spectacular. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. with show-starter Rob Lumbard. Tickets are available at the Iowa State Center Box Office or Ticketmaster for $23.