Legendary musician Garth Hudson, known for his role in “The Band,” passed away earlier this week at the age of 87. Hudson is remembered as an innovative virtuoso organ player and multi-instrumentalist who left an undeniable mark on modern music throughout the latter half of the 20th Century. According to reports, Hudson died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday morning at a nursing home in Woodstock, New York.
Hudson was the last surviving member of The Band, originally formed in Ontario, Canada in 1957. The original lineup featured Hudson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson, and Levon Helm. The group produced numerous influential hits such as “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “The Weight,” and “Up on Cripple Creek.”
The Band’s official X account shared an update to fans, writing, “Today, we sadly say goodbye to Garth “Honey Boy” Hudson, the last living original member of The Band. 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.” Through his music, he did just that—helping us all feel more deeply and connect to something greater. Rest easy, Garth. 
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Hudson, who rarely gave interviews, was extremely humble toward his accomplishments in the group. “It was a job,” he said. “Play a stadium, play a theater. My job was to provide arrangements with pads underneath, pads and fills behind good poets. Same poems every night.” He was also the only member who never sang on stage.
Robbie Robertson, who died in 2023, praised Hudson’s musical genius that brought so much to The Band. “He played brilliantly, in a more complex way than anybody we had ever jammed with,” he said. “Most of us had just picked up our instruments as kids and plowed ahead, but Garth was classically trained and could find musical avenues on the keyboard we didn’t know existed. It impressed us deeply.”
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame posted a lengthy in memoriam of Hudson, writing on X, “As a master of the organ, piano, accordion, and saxophone, 1994 Inductee Garth Hudson was a key architect of the sound of @TheBandOfficial, one of the most influential rock groups of all time. With the classically trained Hudson contributing unique sounds and textures, The Band became the embodiment of what is now called Americana music, synthesizing country, R&B, early rock & roll, and folk music while thematically fusing the past with the present. The Band’s impact on the music that came after them is immeasurable.”
Highlighting his accolades with other musical acts, the organization wrote, “Following the break-up of the group, Hudson went on to become an in-demand session musician, recording with numerous artists including Hall of Famers Elton John, Van Morrison, and Tom Petty.” A friend of Hudson’s, Jamie Saft, wrote on X, “Rest in Peace Maestro Garth Hudson. A true master and a beautiful human. I’m so lucky to have known Garth and to have learned so much from him. Brilliance! Thanks Honey Boy for so much wisdom and knowledge.”
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Popular East Los Angeles band “Los Lobos” honored Hudson’s memory, writing, “It is with profound sadness that we learn of the passing of our hermano & hero Garth Hudson. We treasure the time we got to spend & the simple fact that he was in our lives & on our records gives us enormous joy but above all, we are grateful for the gift of his friendship.”
Featured image credit: Capitol Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Band_(1969).png