You Won’t Believe What Happened to The Last Member of The Band

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Garth Hudson, the last living member of the significant rock group The Band, has passed away at the age of 87. His exceptional keyboard skills are showcased in Martin Scorsese’s iconic 1978 concert film and documentary about The Band, titled The Last Waltz.

Garth Hudson, a renowned musician from Woodstock, New York, passed away in a nursing home close to his longtime residence. This was confirmed by one of his friends and partners in music, Jan Haust, as reported by The New York Times. Born on August 2, 1937, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Hudson was the son of musical parents who nurtured his early passion for piano playing. With a formal education in music theory, harmony, counterpoint, and piano at the University of Western Ontario, he explored Bach’s chorales and “The Well-Tempered Clavier,” but found classical music somewhat restrictive.

Initially, Hudson’s classical background might seem unrelated, but it proved useful when he joined forces with Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, and Richard Manuel, who were fellow Canadian rockers, alongside Americans Levon Helm and Ronnie Hawkins. Collectively known as The Hawks, they supported Ronnie Hawkins in his band, Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks. Bob Dylan discovered The Hawks in the mid-1960s and invited them to accompany him during his 1966 world tour, which was notorious. Although some folk purists considered it a desecration for a rock ‘n’ roll band to back Dylan, the music they produced was exceptional.

After collaborating with Bob Dylan during the renowned Basement Tapes sessions and the Dylan tour in 1968, the band known as The Hawks decided to simplify their name to The Band. This group eventually became one of the most impactful in rock music history. Rick Danko, a multi-talented musician, brought his unique musical abilities to this genre-bending ensemble. He played not only his primary instrument, the Lowry Organ, but also accordion, horns, woodwinds, and violin. Hudson was a pioneer in the use of synthesizers and clavinet, and he arranged much of the music for The Band while also playing a crucial role in the studio.

The Greatest Concert Film of All Time

The Band, kept together by its founding members, had a fairly brief tenure, lasting only a decade. In 1976, Robbie Robertson, the band’s guitarist, planned a farewell concert for The Band. He had recently met and decided to recruit Martin Scorsese, an up-and-coming director, to film and direct the accompanying concert movie, which was named The Last Waltz. Released in 1978, this movie is often regarded as one of the best concert films ever made.

In the interview for The Last Waltz, Scorsese asked, “Can you discuss how, when The Band initially formed, you tended to avoid public attention quite a bit?

I enthusiastically echoed his sentiments about The Band’s cherished home, Woodstock, New York, where he took his final breath this morning. It was more than just a place, it was a lifestyle we grew fond of there. You see, we found joy in simple things like splitting firewood or accidentally hitting your thumb with a hammer.

In 1983, Hudson joined The Band during their reunion, but without Robertson. Later, the band with Robertson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Hudson remained a member until The Band disbanded for good in 1999. Post-The Band, Hudson pursued his career by recording, performing, and teaching. His last public performance occurred on April 16, 2023, in Kingston, New York, where he played Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady.

The Band’s official social media shared a tribute to Garth Hudson. View the Instagram post below:

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2025-01-22 00:03