Garth Hudson dies aged 87: Tributes pour in for last member of The Band

22 January 2025, 10:35 | Updated: 22 January 2025, 10:45

Garth Hudson was the keyboard player and saxophonist in The Band.

Tributes have poured in from across the world of music as news has broken of the death of Garth Hudson, who had been the last surviving member of The Band's classic lineup.

Hudson was the keyboard player, occasional saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist in the group from its inception in 1965. Alongside singer Rick Danko, he was the only ever-present in the group from its very start through all its incarnations.

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Hudson died peacefully in his sleep yesterday morning (January 21) at a nursing home in Woodstock, New York, after a long illness.

Garth was part of The Hawks alongside Danko, Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel, first backing Ronnie Hawkins before going on to play with Bob Dylan.

Dylan and the Hawks recorded and released 'Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?' in 1965, before the band – who would soon become The Band – backed up Dylan as he continued his shift from folk to electric rock and roll.

The Band - Chest Fever - 12/31/1983 - San Francisco Civic Auditorium (Official)

Hudson was a key part of The Band's sound, as was also responsible for setting up the recording equipment to capture what would eventually be known as The Basement Tapes with Bob Dylan.

Until his passing, Garth had been the last surviving member of the classic lineup of The Band, following the deaths of Manuel in 1986, Danko in 1999, Helm in 2012 and Robertson in 2023.

Producer of Music From Big Pink John Simon told The Toronto Star: "Garth was essentially a colourist. He had an incredible palette. Levon Helm said the Band wouldn’t be the Band without him."

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"Today, we sadly say goodbye to Garth 'Honey Boy' Hudson, the last living original member of The Band," read a post on The Band's official social feeds.

"A musical genius and cornerstone of the group’s timeless sound, Garth once said, 'I found some true enjoyment in helping people get to the bottom of their feelings'.

"Through his music, he did just that—helping us all feel more deeply and connect to something greater. Rest easy, Garth. 🕊"

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted The Band in 1994, said: "As a master of the organ, piano, accordion, and saxophone, 1994 Inductee Garth Hudson was a key architect of the sound of The Band,, one of the most influential rock groups of all time.

"With the classically trained Hudson contributing unique sounds and textures, The Band became the embodiment of what is now called Americana music, synthesizing country, R&B, early rock & roll, and folk music while thematically fusing the past with the present.

"The Band's impact on the music that came after them is immeasurable."