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(Woodstock, NY) – Multi-instrumentalist Garth Hudson, best known for being a member of The Band, has died at the age of 87. Born in Windsor, Canada, Hudson passed away on Tuesday near Woodstock, New York. And that’s a fitting spot for the rock and roll standout, who was best known as the keyboardist and occasional saxophonist for The Band.
On their official Instagram page, The Band called Hudson a “genius” and noted his sound was the cornerstone of the group. Hudson was the last surviving member of The Band and spoke to Rolling Stone in 2014. The sound of his organ is a quintessential aspect of many The Band songs. An influential session musician — particularly taking advantage of his mastery of the Lowrey organ — Hudson was in high demand when recording with other artists. Elton John has cited him as an early influence.
