Garth Hudson, whose imaginative approach to the organ and mastery of a wide array of other instruments helped shape the distinctive sound of the Canadian-American rock group The Band, has passed away.
Representatives for the group confirmed his death. Hudson “passed away peacefully in his sleep” on Tuesday morning at a nursing home in Woodstock, New York, the Band’s longtime home base, as confirmed by the musician’s estate executor to the Toronto Star. He was 87.
Retired and rarely interviewed, Hudson was the quiet member of the group, which originally began as The Hawks, the backup band for Arkansas-born rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins. In 1966, they transitioned to supporting Bob Dylan on his groundbreaking first rock ‘n’ roll tour.
After working with Dylan in West Saugerties, New York, where Hudson also served as a recording engineer on the legendary Basement Tapes, the musicians emerged as The Band with their debut album, Music from Big Pink, in 1968. The album, followed by their self-titled release in 1969, secured their place as one of the most influential rock bands of the time.
In an exceptionally modest interview with the Canadian magazine Maclean’s in 2003, Hudson – the only member of The Band who never sang on stage or in the studio – downplayed his unique contributions.
“It was a job,” he explained. “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.”
Robbie Robertson, The Band’s guitarist and primary songwriter, offered a far more enthusiastic evaluation of Hudson’s abilities in his 2016 memoir Testimony: “He played brilliantly, in a more complex way than anybody we had ever jammed with… Garth was classically trained and could find musical avenues on the keyboard we didn’t know existed. It impressed us deeply.”
Hudson made an unforgettable impression with his lengthy, Bach-inspired introduction to “Chest Fever,” a standout track from Big Pink, which became a live performance staple known as “The Genetic Method.”
Each of The Band’s albums showcased Hudson’s remarkable talent: Up on Cripple Creek featured his wah-wah-infused clavinet, Stage Fright‘s “Daniel and the Sacred Harp” began with a church organ intro, and Cahoots‘s “When I Paint My Masterpiece” included Hudson’s distinctive accordion work.
Other highlights include his soprano saxophone performance on Northern Lights-Southern Cross‘s “It Makes No Difference” and his wild organ solo on the group’s cover of Little Richard’s “Slippin’ and Slidin’.”
Following the iconic 1976 farewell concert The Last Waltz in San Francisco, The Band’s studio career concluded with Islands (1977), which included Hudson’s only co-writing credit.
After a failed attempt at a reunion, marked by tensions between Robertson and other members, especially drummer Levon Helm, The Band reformed in 1993 with Jim Weider replacing Robertson. Their efforts continued into the late ’90s, but they were unable to recapture the success of their earlier years.
In his later years, Hudson performed The Band’s music on tours and released three solo albums. In 2010, he curated A Canadian Celebration of the Band, a tribute featuring artists such as Neil Young and Bruce Cockburn.
Hudson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 as a member of The Band and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2008. The Band was inducted into the Juno Awards’ Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1989.
Born Eric Garth Hudson on August 2, 1937, in Windsor, Ontario, he grew up in London, Ontario, in a musically inclined family. His father played several instruments, including flute, saxophone, and drums, while his mother played the accordion. Hudson’s early musical experiences included performing hymns in his uncle’s funeral parlor.
In Helm’s 1993 memoir This Wheel’s On Fire, he recalled that Hudson’s formal music education came at the Toronto Conservatory, where he studied classical piano, including Bach, Chopin, and Mozart.
However, Hudson developed his own improvisational style, eventually moving away from classical music to pursue a professional music career. After a year at the University of Western Ontario, Hudson dropped out and joined local bands. His talent eventually led to his inclusion in The Hawks, where he became known for his unconventional sound.
As part of the band’s arrangement with Hawkins, Hudson was provided with a new Lowrey organ, which he customized to suit his unique style. The instrument became a key part of his sound, contributing to the Band’s signature sound.
After parting ways with Hawkins in 1963, Hudson and the other members of The Hawks recorded as the Canadian Squires and Levon & the Hawks. They later became Bob Dylan’s backing band for his 1965-66 world tour.
Despite early challenges, including a backlash from Dylan’s folk fans, the group’s relationship with Dylan deepened, leading to the recording of the Basement Tapes. The Band would later emerge as a group in their own right, releasing several albums under their new name.
Throughout their career, Hudson’s eclectic talents were evident, playing a variety of instruments, from organ and saxophone to accordion and clavinet.
His collaborations continued into the 21st century, including performances in the Last Waltz 40 Tour and a special guest appearance at a benefit concert for autism research. Hudson’s wife of 43 years, Maud, passed away in February 2022.