The band Keyboard operator Garth Hudson He died.
The Canadian-born musician died at a nursing home in Woodstock, upstate New York. Variety reports an official statement confirming that Garth Hudson died peacefully in his sleep. He was 87 years old.
The Canadian-born musician was drawn into Ronnie Hawkins’ orbit in his early 20s, before becoming an integral part of the Hawks. It was this group that later drifted into the path of Bob Dylan, becoming known to fans around the world simply as “The Band.”
Supporting the famous songwriter on a series of rollercoaster tours, the band then relocated to Woodstock, upstate New York, in the wake of the songwriter’s motorcycle accident.
Working freely, without pressure, Bob Dylan and the band recorded reel after reel of custom material, which later became widely bootlegged. It was eventually released as “Basement Bars”their songwriting—a web of blues, country, folk, gospel, and beyond—would help launch a new movement within Americana.
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Although they are widely known for their work alongside Bob Dylan, the band’s spirited creativity has led to some landmark releases. Known for the democratic nature of their creativity, George Harrison’s role as Garth Hudson became much more than just a keyboardist – songwriter, singer, and studio figure, and he was integral to the band’s development.
Notably, he avoided the then-fashionable Hammond organ, instead opting for a Lurie organ to achieve his unique sound.
As many online have noted, Garth Hudson’s death closes a chapter in music history – he was the last member of the band, and left a remarkable mark on modern songwriting.
CLASH founding editor Simon Harper spoke to Garth Hudson at length in 2008, as he celebrated the musician’s 70th birthday. He was asked about the band’s lasting legacy. He replied:
Well, we have the recordings and it’s not like chalk on the sidewalk, it’s written in stone. This joins hundreds of thousands of recordings since the beginning of the century.
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