Happy Birthday Garth Hudson 08/02/1937

[TimmyB]

Happy 67th Birthday Garth Hudson,

Garth was born on London, Ontario and now I believe he is still a resident of Woodstock, New York. When Garth joined the Hawks, who later became the Band, he did so only on the condition that he had to give everybody keyboard lessons, to appease his parents.

Garth is such a great organ player and has influenced many people that play the organ. The John Paul Jones organ part on Led Zeppelin's "Your Time Is Gonna Come" was directly influenced by Garth's playing on The Bands "Chest Fever."

I was lucky enough to see The Band at the Masonic Temple on Yonge Street in 1996 and I saw Garth perform with his wife Maud and Levon Helm at the Ronnie Hawkins tribute show a couple years back as well.

[zero]

Now this is a fine occasion. Garth's family was actually payed a 'dowry' that included an organ and the music lessons (because Garth's parents thought that playing in a rock and roll band was a waste of his musical education). Garth also learned to first play the organ in his uncle's funeral parlour in London.

(I also saw that show at the Masonic temple and one several years earlier I want to say '89 at the old Ontario Place Forum with Billy Preston in Richard's seat- that was a special occasion. I have since seen the latter day Band and Garth numerous times and always feel blessed.

[Esau]

Cheers Garth & Happy birthday.

The man is pure magic.

Got my first show (The Band) in June 21 1984 with the Grateful Dead,but I must say my favourites were Lulu's March 25th 1995 & in June 1st 1996 for my birthday,we were lucky enough to get backstage (June 1st) but only long enough to shake hands with a few members,which was an awesome b-day gift.I missed the Masonic Temple show but I did catch the show at Convaction Hall December 4th 1993 (Jericho Tour IIRC),always a honor to see them play live.