Garth Hudson, the last remaining member of the famous rock ensemble The Band, passed away at the age of 87 in a nursing home in Woodstock, New York, on January 21, 2025.
Having been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, Hudson was recognized as a masterful keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist. His bandmate, Robbie Robertson, had once described him as “far and away the most advanced musician in rock ‘n’ roll,” citing his ability to enhance their music with rich textures and counterpoint.
Hudson’s engagement with music started early in his life. He began piano lessons at five years old and played the organ at his church. His father encouraged him to learn the saxophone in high school, an instrument that later became a significant component of The Band’s sound. While at Western Ontario University, Hudson studied classical pipe organ, music theory, harmony, and counterpoint.
His parents insisted he impart his knowledge of music theory to his bandmates as a condition for playing rock music, which they deemed unfit for him. This early classical training played a significant role in shaping The Band’s nuanced sound.
Born Eric Garth Hudson in London, Ontario, he joined Ronnie Hawkins’ ensemble, The Hawks, at the age of 24. The group, which included drummer Levon Helm, guitarist Robbie Robertson, bassist Rick Danko, and vocalist and keyboardist Richard Manuel, later rebranded as The Band in 1964.
In 1966, Bob Dylan enlisted the group to back him on his Electric tour across the United States, Europe, and Australia. This partnership marked a turning point as The Band supported Dylan during his contentious switch from acoustic to electric music, facing audiences that disapproved of Dylan’s new direction. During this time, they recorded over 100 tracks with Dylan in the basement of a pink house in West Saugerties, New York. These recordings, referred to as “The Basement Tapes,” were officially released in 1975.
The Band’s album “Music from Big Pink” reached No. 30 on the Billboard charts and included the iconic song “The Weight.” Their next album, “The Band,” ascended to No. 9, cementing their status in rock history.
Hudson’s unique keyboard work was integral to The Band’s signature sound, notably on tracks like “Up on Cripple Creek” and “Rag Mama Rag.” His innovative use of the Lowrey organ and clavinet resulted in the group’s distinctive sound, a fusion of classical, jazz, and rock music elements.
“We were so locked in, in a musicality, and in a personal way, that we invented something that had a big effect on the course of music,” Robertson told Yahoo Entertainment in February 2020. “We weren’t trendy, because we didn’t know what the trend was – and didn’t want to.”
The Band enjoyed continued success until the mid-1970s when Robertson proposed they retire from live performances. This decision followed various challenges, including the lukewarm reception of their album “Northern Lights – Southern Cross” and a boating accident that involved band member Manuel.
On November 25, 1976, their farewell concert, The Last Waltz, took place at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California. The concert spanned over five hours, featuring 41 songs, and cost $500,000 to produce. It also included a Thanksgiving dinner for 5,000 people. Hudson’s organ work was particularly noteworthy during Van Morrison’s performance of “Caravan” and the group’s rendition of “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” The event included performances by Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Muddy Waters, Dr. John, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, and Neil Diamond. The concert was documented in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed 1978 documentary “The Last Waltz.”
The Band’s official X page referred to Hudson as a “musical genius and a cornerstone of the group’s timeless sound,” noting that Hudson once stated, “I found some true enjoyment in helping people get to the bottom of their feelings.”
Following The Band’s dissolution, Hudson continued to be involved in the music industry, collaborating with artists such as Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty, Van Morrison, and Elton John. He released his debut solo album, “The Sea to the North,” in 2001. In 1989, he recorded a significant live session with bassist Rick Danko for NPR. His contributions to the Neville Brothers’ “Yellow Moon” album and several of Leonard Cohen’s projects displayed his versatility.
In 2010, he recorded “Garth Hudson Presents: A Canadian Celebration of The Band,” featuring Canadian artists covering The Band’s songs. His last significant recording project involved contributing to the “What Is Man” track on the 2023 posthumous release of Robbie Robertson’s final album. His last public performance was in April 2023, at a house concert in Kingston, New York.
In his later years, Hudson encountered substantial financial difficulties. He sold his stake in The Band to Robertson and declared bankruptcy multiple times. He lost his home to foreclosure and had many of his possessions auctioned. His wife, Maud, died in 2022.
In 2004, The Band was listed among Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, further establishing their legacy in rock history. Their music, a blend of Americana, folk, rock, jazz, and country, created a unique sound that has influenced countless artists.
All other members of The Band died before Hudson: Richard Manuel died by suicide in a motel room in Florida in 1986; Rick Danko died in his sleep at his home in Marbletown, New York, in 1999; Levon Helm died from cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City in 2012, and Robbie Robertson died in Los Angeles, California, in 2023 after a prolonged illness.
