Garth Hudson, keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist and the last living member of the rock group “The Band,” has died at 87-years-old.
“Today, we sadly say goodbye to Garth ‘Honey Boy’ Hudson, the last living original member of The Band,” read the caption.
“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. Rest easy, Garth,” the post continued.
Hudson had been living in a nursing home near Woodstock, New York, at the time of his passing, with the circumstances surrounding his death unknown at this time.
Hall of Fame Career
Born in Windsor, Ontario, Hudson was one of the founding four members of The Band, which was originally called “The Hawks,” when formed in the early 1960s.
The group first served as a backing for rocker Ronnie Hawkins, and featured guitarist-songwriter Robbie Robertson, keyboardist-vocalist Richard Manuel, bassist-vocalist Rick Danko, and drummer and vocalist Levon Helm.
By 1967, the group gained notoriety after leaving Hawkins and going on to back the famed Bob Dylan, before renaming themselves to “The Band,” after those around Dylan began referring to them as such.
The following year, they released their debut album, “Music from Big Pink,” and Hudson made his mark through his instrumental work on electric organ, accordion and saxophone.
Through his contributions of blending rock with elements of blues, folk, and Americana, Hudson was a critical component to the group’s sound bringing songs such as, “The Weight,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “The Shape I’m In,” and “Up on Cripple Creek” to life.
Together, they released ten studio albums and over 30 singles before disbanding in 1976, and Hudson went on to embark on a solo career.
He worked on a number of different projects with artists including, Poco, Van Morrison, the Call, Camper Van Beethoven, Mary Gauthier, and others, and even playing briefly with the English band “The Call.”
In 1983, the Band reformed although without Robertson and Hudson contributed to the release of three more albums before a series of tragic losses faced the group.
Manuel died by suicide in 1986, and Danko’s death in 1999 officially ended their career. Helm died of cancer in 2012, and Robertson died over a decade later after a battle with a lengthy illness.
