Ticket 2 Ride

A sad day, the last of d has died. Garth Hudson, a multi-instrumentalist, mainly known for his soulful keyboards, quietly let his fingers do his talking.

I didn’t know much about Hudson, he was a burly looking guy with a bushy beard. Others in the group stepped out front and into the limelight, yet Hudson seemed content to color the songs from his rich musical background and talent. His sound was often the Lowery organ he played, but he was skilled on other instruments.

Musicians like Garth Hudson never get the credit for what they contribute but is taken for granted because their playing blends into the song and becomes part of the sonic pallet that is consumed by the listener. If one stripped away the chords, fills and notes, most of the songs he played one would like a car with only three wheels.

Hudson was recognized by other members of The Band, those who hired him to play on their songs, and colleagues who knew him as a superb musician whose talent was only exceeded by his musical soulfulness.

I didn’t follow The Band as closely as many, so this is in no way an obit, just a celebration of the man’s talent and legacy. Here are a couple of good obits for further reading.

Rest in peace, sir.

https://apnews.com/article/garth-hudson-died-87-band-2c5cfc1d960e4c24854894c08902ee4e

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/garth-hudson-the-band-dead-1234804659/