Garth Hudson, the final surviving member of The Band, passes away at 87: ‘A musical genius’
Garth Hudson, the last living member of The Band, has passed away at the age of 87.
Hudson died early on Tuesday while at a nursing facility near Woodstock, New York, as confirmed by his former manager, Jim Della Croce, to YSL News. Della Croce described Hudson as a “brilliant man” and the essential component that unified The Band.
The official Facebook page for The Band also acknowledged Hudson’s passing and shared a heartfelt tribute.
“A musical genius and foundational element of the group’s enduring sound, Garth once remarked, ‘I found some true enjoyment in helping people get to the bottom of their feelings,'” the tribute noted. “Through his music, he achieved just that — enabling us to experience deeper emotions and connect to something larger than ourselves.”
Hudson was the keyboardist for The Band, a pioneering rock group formed in 1957, originally named the Hawks. They famously collaborated with Bob Dylan and released their first album, “Music from Big Pink,” in 1968.
The Band’s final concert in 1976 was famously captured in Martin Scorsese’s film “The Last Waltz,” featuring performances from artists like Dylan, Ringo Starr, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young. The group later reunited without guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson.
In 2008, The Band was honored with a lifetime achievement Grammy, and they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
“The Band is celebrated for their musical skill and their distinct fusion of styles, having shared the stage with countless artists,” states the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“Who else can claim to have supported Bob Dylan, performed at Watkins Glen alongside Grateful Dead, and delivered a farewell concert comprised of legends like Neil Young, Muddy Waters, and Joni Mitchell, all brilliantly captured in film by Martin Scorsese? More than any other group, The Band has reconnected rock and roll with its roots.”
With Hudson’s passing, he became the last surviving member after Robertson’s death in 2023. That same year, the Scorsese film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” featuring a score composed by Robertson, was released.