In Memoriam
Garth Hudson
August 2, 1937 – January 21, 2025 · aged 87
Roots Rock · Americana · Folk Rock
Eric Garth Hudson was the quiet, eccentric musical genius and virtuosic multi-instrumentalist who provided the sprawling, cinematic sonic textures for The Band. Born in Ontario, Canada, in 1937, Hudson was classically trained and possessed a deep understanding of jazz, folk, and classical music. He was the vital structural glue that elevated The Band's rustic Americana sound. Playing the Lowrey organ, piano, accordion, and saxophone, his swirling, highly inventive keyboard lines—particularly his dizzying, carnivalesque intro to 'Chest Fever' and his masterful playing on 'Up on Cripple Creek'—were entirely unique in rock music. He was notoriously introverted, content to hide behind his massive keyboard rig and a bushy beard while his bandmates handled the vocals, yet every musician in the industry recognized him as a true maestro. Passing away on January 21, 2025, at the age of 87, Hudson was the last surviving original member of The Band, marking the definitive, heartbreaking end of one of Americana's greatest chapters.
Milestones
The Weight, Up on Cripple Creek, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Also remembered in 2025
- David Johansen (1950–2025)
- Marianne Faithfull (1946–2025)
- Ozzy Osbourne (1948–2025)
- Roberta Flack (1937–2025)