The one, the only Garth Hudson.

He is definitely a unique human being and was a big part of making The Band's sound unique.

@bdp24 

"The only other Rock band keyboardist I've heard who imo plays on the same level as Garth is Terry Adams of NRBQ."

Maybe this is a dumb question, but what do you mean, exactly, by "the same level"? Technical? Emotional? Conceptual? 

When Music From Big Pink came out, I bought it unheard due to their association with Dylan. At first, I was taken aback by how different it was from what I was used to listening to. Before long, it had grown on me and I absolutely loved it

When their second album came out, I was floored by how good it was. The Band carved out their own category of music that no one has come close to since.

In the last band I was in before hanging it up, we played a knock-off of their The Shape I'm In.

Garth is truly a musical treasure.

If you're an instagram user and Garth Hudson fan, there's a very short video of Hudson playing Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady". It's a recent video. The instagram handle is @the_band_official. He plays the song with a Monkish touch, imho. You can also see the video at @stereogum.

@bdp24

Yeah Bill, especially that of Richard Manuel, whose suicide brought me to tears. The only death of a musician I’ve cried about.

I was lucky, so to speak, to see The Band at the Columbus Agora the night, or two, before Manuel committed suicide. Maybe it was a week….cannot remember exactly. I was shocked when I heard the news, but knew then and there, there would never be another chance to see them again. Even without Robbie.

And, for me, that night, Garth was the highlight. Special person and musician.