On January 21, 2025, the music world lost Garth Hudson, the last surviving member of the iconic rock group The Band, at a nursing home in Woodstock, New York. Hudson was 87 years old at the time of his death.
Hudson, a virtuoso keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. His bandmate, Robbie Robertson, once described him as “far and away the most advanced musician in rock ‘n’ roll,” lauding his ability to enrich their music with intricate textures and counterpoint.
From a young age, Hudson immersed himself in music. He started piano lessons at age five and played the organ in church. His father urged him to learn the saxophone in high school, an instrument that later became a significant part of The Band’s sound. At Western Ontario University, Hudson studied classical pipe organ, music theory, harmony, and counterpoint.
His parents, viewing rock music as beneath him, insisted that Hudson teach music theory to his bandmates. This classical education heavily influenced The Band’s distinctive sound.
Hudson, born and raised in London, Ontario, joined Ronnie Hawkins’ band, The Hawks, at 24. The group, which would later become The Band in 1964, also included drummer Levon Helm, guitarist Robbie Robertson, bass player Rick Danko, and vocalist and keyboardist Richard Manuel.
In 1966, Bob Dylan enlisted The Band for his Electric tour across the United States, Europe, and Australia. During this transformative period, The Band supported Dylan through his contentious shift from acoustic to electric music, often performing for audiences who rejected Dylan’s new direction. They also recorded over 100 tracks with Dylan in a house in West Saugerties, New York, known as “The Basement Tapes,” which were officially released in 1975.
The Band’s album, “Music from Big Pink,” reached No. 30 on the Billboard charts and included the classic song “The Weight.” Their following album, “The Band,” climbed to No. 9, solidifying their significant place in rock history.
Hudson’s unique keyboard skills played a crucial role in The Band’s signature sound, evident in songs like “Up on Cripple Creek” and “Rag Mama Rag.” His innovative use of the Lowrey organ and clavinet created the group’s unique sound, a blend of classical, jazz, and rock music elements.
“We were so locked in, in a musicality, and in a personal way, that we invented something that had a big effect on the course of music,” Robertson told Yahoo Entertainment in February 2020. “We weren’t trendy, because we didn’t know what the trend was – and didn’t want to.”
By the mid-1970s, The Band faced several challenges, including the lukewarm reception of their album “Northern Lights – Southern Cross” and a boating accident involving Manuel. Consequently, Robertson advocated for the group to retire from live performances.
Their farewell concert, The Last Waltz, was held at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California on November 25, 1976. The concert lasted more than five hours and featured 41 songs. The event cost $500,000 to produce and included a Thanksgiving dinner for 5,000 attendees. Hudson’s organ work was particularly noteworthy during Van Morrison’s performance of “Caravan” and the group’s rendition of “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” The concert was filmed by Martin Scorsese and released as the acclaimed documentary “The Last Waltz” in 1978.
The Band’s official X page described Hudson as a “musical genius and a cornerstone of the group’s timeless sound,” adding that Hudson once said, “I found some true enjoyment in helping people get to the bottom of their feelings.”
After The Band’s disbandment, Hudson continued to contribute to the music industry, collaborating with artists such as Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty, Van Morrison, and Elton John. He released his first solo album, “The Sea to the North,” in 2001 and participated in a notable live session with bassist Rick Danko for NPR in 1989. His versatility was demonstrated through his contributions to the Neville Brothers’ “Yellow Moon” album and several projects with Leonard Cohen.
In 2010, Hudson recorded “Garth Hudson Presents: A Canadian Celebration of The Band,” featuring Canadian artists covering The Band’s songs. His last major recording project was his contribution to the “What Is Man” track on Robbie Robertson’s posthumous 2023 album. His final public performance was at a house concert in Kingston, New York, in April 2023.
In his later years, Hudson encountered significant financial difficulties. He sold his interest in The Band to Robertson, filed for bankruptcy multiple times, and lost his home to foreclosure. Numerous personal belongings were auctioned off. His wife, Maud, died in 2022.
The Band was listed among Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time in 2004, a testament to their lasting influence on rock music. Their unique blend of Americana, folk, rock, jazz, and country continues to inspire artists today.
Prior to Hudson’s death, the other members of The Band had passed away: Richard Manuel died by suicide in a Florida motel room in 1986; Rick Danko died in his sleep at his home in Marbletown, New York, in 1999; Levon Helm died from cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City in 2012, and Robbie Robertson died in Los Angeles, California in 2023 after a long illness.