Eric ‘Garth’ Hudson, the last original member of The Band, has died aged 87, the group has announced.
The Canadian musician rose to fame with alongside his legendary bandmates Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Richard Manuel as their keyboardist. The Band, which was formed in 1957, put out hit songs The Weight, Up On Cripple Creek and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.
A short statement posted on The Band’s official Instagram page said: “Today, we sadly say goodbye to Garth ‘Honey Boy’ Hudson, the last living original member of The Band. 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 Band received critical acclaim for their first two albums, 1968’s Music From Big Pink and 1969’s self-titled The Band, and had an influence on the music of the 60s and 70s. In 1976, a final concert at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom with Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Neil Young and Muddy Waters in the line-up was made into the Martin Scorsese documentary The Last Waltz, released in 1978.
The Band rose to stardom after being the backing group for Bob Dylan during his 1966 concert tour. The group was remembered as being Dylan’s first tour featuring an electric band. After their world-wide success of their ten hit studio albums, The Band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
After the band broke up, Hudson kicked off his solo career in 2001 releasing his first solo album The Sea to the North. In 2002, he joined with pedal steel player Sneaky Pete Kleinow to form Burrito Deluxe. In 2005, Hudson formed his own 12-piece band named ‘the Best’ with his wife, Maud Hudson on vocals. Garth shared a loving 43-year-long marriage with Maud during which they travelled and sang around the world.
Tragically, Hudson was the last surviving member of The Band’s original lineup. Manuel was found dead in 1986, Danko died of heart failure in 1999, and Helm of cancer in 2012. In August 2023, Robertson died aged 80, surrounded by family.
Hudson’s wife and musical collaborator, Maud, passed on February 21, 2022. The couple is survived by a daughter, four grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
* Follow Mirror Celebs onSnapchat,Instagram,Twitter,Facebook,YouTubeandThreads.
Celeb obsessed? Get a daily dose of showbiz gossip direct to your inbox
