RIP. One of the true originals and a monster talent in his own quiet way.
I’ve always liked this story about him:
When he joined the Hawks, The Band’s first incarnation, in 1961, Ronnie Hawkins paid him an extra $10 a week to teach the others to read and write music, mostly to placate Garth’s parents, who feared their son was squandering his education. The boys never learned.
Interesting all these comments about his death being sad. An odd person who by chance ends up in a band that plays on stages around the world , backing one of of rock’s iconic stars including one of rock’s most iconic moments. … Judas. Records the basement tapes.
He outlived the rest of em by some years and by all accounts was lost and lonely in his final years.
At age 87 I raise a glass to a life well lived.
In 2016 there was a Last Waltz 40th Anniversary concert in New Zealand – three, actually, in Auckland Wellington and Christchurch. A cavalcade of NZ music stars, a great band, and Garth Hudson, with Sister Maud. Oh, and me. One of the show’s producers was an old drummer mate who’d gone into the management/production side of things, and he called me and said they needed a “spare” organ player in case Garth needed to go and have a rest halfway through the show. Of course I said yes. It turned out that I played just about the whole show, except for the intro to Chest Fever, and a couple of others featuring Sister Maud – The Weight and I Shall Be released, from memory. Garth was lovely, spoke very quietly in what sounded like a southern drawl even though he’s Canadian. There’s a couple more stories I could share but this one will do for now…
Durng rehearsals Garth had a vast keyboard rig set up for him to play, but all he wanted to do was play piano, in particular jazz standards with unusual chord changes, like this one, Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Lady. The band and crew all just stood around in awe as he journeyed through these songs, adding quotes from other tunes and generally wandering magically through the history of American music
At 87, after what seems to have been a difficult few years
Love that wild, skirling Lowrey sound he made his own
RIP. One of the true originals and a monster talent in his own quiet way.
I’ve always liked this story about him:
When he joined the Hawks, The Band’s first incarnation, in 1961, Ronnie Hawkins paid him an extra $10 a week to teach the others to read and write music, mostly to placate Garth’s parents, who feared their son was squandering his education. The boys never learned.
That’s really sad – both his departure and the fact that he’s the last. Yes that organ sound…
RIP.
Sad news indeed. He seems to have been a good man mostly unaffected by the ‘rock & roll’ lifestyle. His distinctive sound was a joy.
RIP Garth
The Weight hangs heavy today. Rest easy, Garth.
Farewell.
Interesting all these comments about his death being sad. An odd person who by chance ends up in a band that plays on stages around the world , backing one of of rock’s iconic stars including one of rock’s most iconic moments. … Judas. Records the basement tapes.
He outlived the rest of em by some years and by all accounts was lost and lonely in his final years.
At age 87 I raise a glass to a life well lived.
Are Band the first of the earlier major rock ( as opposed to soul or rock n’roll) bands where all the members have now died?
Albeit there were only three of them, Mitch Mitchell was the last of The Jimi Hendrix Experience to die – in 2008.
I was reminded today that, although of a later vintage, all of the original members of Lynyrd Skynard are now all dead,
Yet they still manage to tour the UK this summer!
In 2016 there was a Last Waltz 40th Anniversary concert in New Zealand – three, actually, in Auckland Wellington and Christchurch. A cavalcade of NZ music stars, a great band, and Garth Hudson, with Sister Maud. Oh, and me. One of the show’s producers was an old drummer mate who’d gone into the management/production side of things, and he called me and said they needed a “spare” organ player in case Garth needed to go and have a rest halfway through the show. Of course I said yes. It turned out that I played just about the whole show, except for the intro to Chest Fever, and a couple of others featuring Sister Maud – The Weight and I Shall Be released, from memory. Garth was lovely, spoke very quietly in what sounded like a southern drawl even though he’s Canadian. There’s a couple more stories I could share but this one will do for now…
Durng rehearsals Garth had a vast keyboard rig set up for him to play, but all he wanted to do was play piano, in particular jazz standards with unusual chord changes, like this one, Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Lady. The band and crew all just stood around in awe as he journeyed through these songs, adding quotes from other tunes and generally wandering magically through the history of American music
Mousey wins.
Great obit here
https://www.theringer.com/2025/01/22/music/garth-hudson-the-band-obituary?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3GS6gVd5-1zgt398J1ENlgpsMW5LEHgE1KAqrftfSlVglblGHJo7Uhp0M_aem_CMT8RYDuY_RNf2-kOE4GCw
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0027ck7?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
Once again, Radio Ulster comes up with goods.
You have a week to hear it
It’s there for a month (from yesterday’s broadcast) as is usual with shows on BBC Sounds.