Happy Birthday Garth Hudson: Performing With Wilco In 2013

Renowned multi-instrumentalist Garth Hudson was born on this date in 1937 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Hudson and Robbie Robertson are the last surviving original members of the legendary rock group The Band whose approach to music laid the groundwork for an authentic style that is often labeled Americana.

The 81-year-old best-known for his keyboard playing performed several shows last year which were part of the all-star concert series The Last Waltz 40 Tour: A Celebration Of The 40th Anniversary Of The Last Waltz. Hudson also made a special appearance in 2013 when he joined Wilco during a stop on the AmericanaramA Tour.

Hudson’s early-career collaborator Bob Dylan headlined the AmericanaramA Tour which also included Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Richard Thompson, Ryan Bingham and Bob Weir on select dates. On July 21, the tour came to Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York and Wilco’s set that evening featured Hudson sitting-in on several songs.

Hudson emerged mid-set to play accordion on “Long Black Veil” which was covered on The Band’s 1968 debut album Music from Big Pink. He also guested on the Billy Bragg and Wilco collaboration utilizing Woody Guthrie’s lyrics “California Stars.” Hudson’s guest spot concluded with the other musicians leaving him alone on stage to perform his signature “Genetic Method” organ solo that introduced “Chest Fever” with MMJ frontman Jim James coming back with Wilco for The Band classic. Revisit the collaboration below: