Reknowned Multi-instrumentalist Garth Hudson (of The Band) (1937-2025) R.I.P.

 

Legendary Canadian Multi-instrumentalist (piano, organ, sax, accordion, etc.) Garth Hudson died recently (Jan. 21, 2025) at a nursing home in Woodstock, NY. He was 87 years old. Garth was best-known as original member and keyboard player (as well as occasional sax and accordion) for The Band. He was the last surviving member of that legendary influential group, first formed in 1957 as The Hawks and was at first the backing band for Ronnie Hawkins through the mid-60's. They gained much recognition when they backed Bob Dylan on his 1966 electric tour, and became known as The Band from then on. Their 1st album as The band was Music From the Big Pink (1968), followed by The Band (1970), both released to great critical and commercial success. I've previously posted many shows and commentaries demonstrating the importance of The Band in rock history.

Hudson was integral to The Band's sound and style, with his signature Lowrey organ, which he was considered to be the Master of (unlike many other rock organists who preferred the Hammond organ sound, Hudson always used a Lowrey). He was once described by Keyboard magazine (Dec.1983) as "the most brilliant organist in the rock world". Outside of The Band, he was much in-demand as a session musician, and worked on movie soundtracks (Raging Bull, King of Comedy, the Right Stuff, etc.) and with artists such as Emmylou Harris, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, Roger Waters, and The Flying Burrito Brothers, as well as on solo albums from his various bandmates. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Band in 1994. He released his only solo album, The Sea to the North in 2001, joined a re-formed Flying Burrito Brothers in 2002, and formed a band with his wife Maud, Best! in 2005. He continued doing session work throughout the 2000's and released an All-Star Canadian tribute to the Band (with Neil Young, Bruce Cockburn, Cowboy,Junkies) in 2010 and Garth played on every track. Garth made his final public performance in Kingston, NY in 2023.  Grth's famous sound and style will be missed, but lives on in all the wonderful recordings of his and The Band's music.

Of Garth's legendary bandmates:

Richard Manuel, died 1983

Rick Danko,  died 1999

Levon Helm, died 2012

Robbie Robertson, died 2023

Previous posts featuring concerts and tributes to The Band can be found here.