Garth Hudson, the famous Canadian multi-instrumentalist, who was best known as the keyboardist and occasional saxophonist for the rock group The Band, has passed away.
Garth Hudson died on Tuesday, January 21, at the age of 87. He was beloved as the multi-talented musical genius who elevated The Band while remaining its most reserved member.
Hudson, the last surviving member of the group, passed away in his sleep at a nursing home in Woodstock, N.Y., as reported by the Toronto Star. The exact cause of his death has not been disclosed.
A post on the group’s Instagram account read: “Garth once said, ‘I found some true enjoyment in helping people get to the bottom of their feelings. Through his music, he did just that —helping us all feel more deeply and connect to something greater.”
Garth Hudson was the only member of The Band who did not sing onstage or on a record, yet his exceptional talent left a lasting mark on their music. Renowned for his versatility, he masterfully played a wide range of instruments, including the accordion, clavinet, piccolo, saxophone, melodica, piano, and synthesizer.
Hudson was best known for his mastery of the organ and work on it, favoring the Lowrey over the Hammond B-3, which was the rock standard of the era. His most iconic contribution to The Band was the mesmerizing organ solo that opens “Chest Fever,” a performance so distinctive it earned its own title: “The Genetic Method.”
Garth Hudson was the oldest member and the last to join The Band, which initially performed as The Hawks, backing Ronnie Hawkins. In the late 1960s, they parted ways with Hawkins, toured with Bob Dylan during his transition from folk to rock, and later released their debut studio album, Music from the Big Pink, in 1969.
Hudson, who was the only classically trained musician in the group, was admired by his colleagues for his immense skills.
The Band guitarist Robbie Robertson once said: “There’s no question in my mind that, at the time, Garth was far and away the most advanced musician in rock ‘n’ roll.”
After the group’s legendary farewell concert, The Last Waltz, in 1976, Hudson collaborated with various artists on numerous recordings but never attained the same level of prominence he experienced with The Band.
Hudson was preceded in death by keyboardist Richard Manuel in 1986, bassist Rick Danko in 1999, drummer Levon Helm in 2012, guitarist Robbie Robertson in 2023, and his wife, Maud, in 2022.
