The Canadian multi-instrumentalist, rock legend and last original member of the Canadian group The Band, died Tuesday at the age of 87.
He was considered one of the greatest keyboard players in rock music. Multi-instrumentalist Garth Hudson died Tuesday, January 21, in upstate New York at the age of 87. A true keyboard virtuoso, Garth Hudson was one of the key architects of the sound of The Band, one of the most influential rock groups of all time. After the band broke up, Garth Hudson became an in-demand studio musician, recording with Elton John, Van Morrison, Tom Petty and younger acts: Neko Case, Norah Jones and Wilco.
In a social media post Tuesday, the group called it « musical genius and cornerstone of the band’s timeless sound ». Jan Haust, longtime friend and colleague of Garth Hudson, confirmed the musician’s death to Rolling Stone magazine, specifying that he « died peacefully », at a nursing home in Woodstock, New York. He was the last surviving member of the American-Canadian folk and rock band The Band, following the death in August 2023 of Canadian guitarist Robbie Robertson.
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Garth Hudson was born in Windsor, Ontario on August 3, 1937, years before his bandmates in The Band, to a musical couple: his mother was a pianist and his father played various wind instruments. At age 12, young Garth played accordion in a country music group before his parents sent him to the Toronto Conservatory. After his formation, in the late 1950s, he began his career in the group Paul London and The Capers. He gained notoriety by joining Ronnie Hawkins’ group as organist, saxophonist and keyboardist. The group consists of Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel and Rick Danko. « There is no doubt in my mind that at the time, Garth was by far the most advanced musician in rock & roll »entrusts Robbie Robertson to the magazine Rolling Stone.
Intronisé au Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
But his legacy and influence were truly consolidated within The Band. The group enjoyed several successes in the 1960s and 1970s, including The Weight, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down et Up On Cripple Creek. He also makes history for his collaboration with the legend Bob Dylan, during his transition to electric rock. The band also appears on three Bob Dylan albums, and the musician appears on several of the band’s tracks, including Tears of Rage et This Wheel’s on Fire. In 1994, Garth Hudson and the other members of The Band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Band eventually broke up after the release of the album Islands in 1977 with a farewell concert in San Francisco. This farewell was the subject of a Martin Scorcese film in 1978, The Last Waltz. The director brought in many artists, including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Ringo Starr and Neil Young. Despite his immense talent, Garth Hudson has remained a relatively discreet figure, often more concerned with music than fame. His image as a living legend and his work allowed him to receive a 2008 Grammy Award for his entire career.
