MusicGarth Hudson dies at age 87; Now, everyone from The Band is gone

Last Tuesday (21), the cycle of The Band closed completely. The last member of its classic and most lasting formation, Garth Hudsonleft us at the age of 87.

The Canadian multi-instrumentalist’s cause of death was not disclosed. However, according to a statement (via Toronto Star), the artist “passed away peacefully in his sleep” in the morning at a nursing home in Woodstock, New York, United States.

It is known that Hudson had lived at the nursing home for a number of years. In 2013, after 7 years of not paying rent, he was evicted from his home in Kingston. His belongings were sold at a garage sale, including items from his music career. Your wife, Maudto whom he was married for more than four decades, passed away in 2022.

In the same year, before the loss, a fan mobilized an online campaign for other people to send letters to Garth, who felt “lonely and undervalued”. In April 2023, he even made a surprise public appearance — which would become his last — at a party also in Kingston. In a wheelchair, he played a version of “Sophisticated Lady”composed of Duke Ellington.

With Hudson’s departure, there is no member left from the classic lineup of The Band, active between 1968 and 1977. Namely:

• The pianist and vocalist Richard Manuel took his own life on March 4, 1986, at age 42;
• The bassist and vocalist Rick Danko suffered a fatal heart attack on December 10, 1999, at the age of 55;
• The drummer and vocalist Levon Helm he succumbed to throat cancer on April 19, 2012, at the age of 71;
• The guitarist Robbie Robertson passed away from prostate cancer on August 9, 2023, at the age of 80.

About Garth Hudson

Born on August 2, 1937, in Windsor, Canada, Garth Hudson He was notable for his wide range of instruments. He was devoted to the organ, but also played the piano, keyboard, accordion and saxophone. Icons like Elton John and Billy Joelamong others, mention him as an influence.

He was also cited as the main architect of The Band’s sound. Initially a support group called The Hawksbaptized when they accompanied the musician Ronnie Hawkins between 1958 and 1963, the project had the opportunity to be the band of Bob Dylan on his infamous Electric Tour, on which he spent part of 1965 and 1966 revolutionizing how folk and rock were performed live.

Hudson needed convincing to join the lineup. He imposed a condition: being able to tell his parents that he was working as a music teacher for the other members.

Dylan’s aforementioned world tour came to an abrupt end on July 29, 1966, after the singer was involved in a motorcycle accident. Although they continued to collaborate with the singer, the musicians began to envision a separate career — which began with the album Music from Big Pink (1968), ground zero of roots rock and responsible for inspiring names like Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Crosby, Still & Nashjust to focus on the best known.

The Band existed until 1977, a year after the famous farewell show The Last Waltz. It met between 1983 and 1999. In the meantime, Hudson worked as a studio musician, collaborating with van morrison, Leonard Cohenbetween others. In 1990, he participated in the show “The Wall” in Berlin from Roger Waterstogether with colleagues Levon Helm and Rick Danko — whose solo albums also featured his participation, in addition to Robbie Robertsonsecond to last to leave us, in 2023.

At the same time, he released only two solo studio albums: Music for Our Lady Queen of the Angels (1980) and The Sea to the North (2001). Also did it live Live at the Wolf (2005) with his wife, Maud. In 2010, he curated A Canadian Celebration of the Bandtribute to his group with fellow countrymen like Neil Young, Bruce Cockburn, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Cowboy Junkies and Blue Rodeo.