Garth Hudson, Last Surviving Member of The Band, Dies At 87
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The Band’s last surviving member, Garth Hudson, passed away Tuesday at the age of 87.
The verified Facebook page for The Band confirmed Hudson’s death and shared a tribute.
“A musical genius and cornerstone of the group’s timeless sound, Garth once said, ‘I found some true enjoyment in helping people get to the bottom of their feelings,'” the post said. “Through his music, he did just that — helping us all feel more deeply and connect to something greater.”
Hudson is best known for his multi-instrumental skills and keyboard work with The Band, the influential rock group that formed in 1957 and originally went by the name ‘The Hawks’. They famously performed with Bob Dylan, gaining recognition for backing Dylan on his 1966 world tour as his first electric band.
After leaving Dylan and changing their name to The Band, they released their debut studio in 1968, “Music from Big Pink”, which featured their famous song “The Weight”.
Hudson was a principal architect of the group’s sound and was described as “the most brilliant organist in the rock world” by Keyboard magazine.
As a member of The Band, he was inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.