Rock Cellar Magazine – Garth Hudson Dies: Keyboardist/Multi-Instrumentalist and Last Surviving Founding Member of The Band was 87 [Video]

Garth Hudson, keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist and the last remaining founding member of The Band, has passed away at the age of 87.

The news was announced early Tuesday. Per Rolling Stone:

Jan Haust, Hudson’s longtime friend and colleague, confirmed his death to Rolling Stone. He declined to reveal a cause of death, but said Hudson “died peacefully” and “yesterday was a day of music and hand-holding.”

Born in 1937 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Hudson joined Levon Helm and the Hawks in 1961 by request of Helm and Ronnie Hawkins. As an integral part of The Band’s sound, Hudson’s presence was unmistakable.

When Bob Dylan famously recorded music with the Band that resulted in the albums Planet Waves and The Basement Tapes, it was said that Hudson’s contributions were a main reason for Dylan’s collaboration.

Per Rolling Stone‘s look back:

The Hawks soon parted ways with Hawkins, who was a strict taskmaster, and signed on with Bob Dylan, …