RIP Garth Hudson

 In August of 2004, I spent a night in Morgantown, West Virginia, boxing 20,000 albums for a friend of mine. All by myself. I slept on the floor of this empty 120 year-old building, waiting for the moving van to arrive the next morning. I got back to Charlotte at 6pm, and fell asleep for an hour, totally exhausted. Scott Avett called and woke me up. We talked for 20 minutes, and I had to ask him later what we talked about.

Somehow, I got myself to the Neighborhood Theatre that evening for a show with Burrito Deluxe. The band featured Sneaky Pete Kleinow of the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Garth Hudson of the Band. It was a good show, but I told myself, “I’ll say hello to Pete and Garth, and then I’ll go back to bed.” Garth and I started talking about records, and he mentioned an obscure 78 rpm record, and I said, “Wait, I have that record.” “I’ve never met anyone that knows about, much less owns that record,” responded Garth. The record had been made by the Communist Party of New York City during the 1930s, and somehow had ended up left in a cottage that my dad’s parents bought in 1960. I'd never realized the origins of that record until Garth told me that night.

After a while, Garth asked if I knew of any good places to eat that were still open. I recommended the Landmark Diner. Garth said, “Are you going?” “Yes, I am,” I replied. Garth, Sneaky Pete (who was celebrating his birthday that day) and Jeff Davis (former American Rhythm Aces bass player) piled into my car. I had to throw trash from my backseat into the trunk. Garth sat upfront, Pete and Jeff in the back. At one point, I started laughing. “What’s up, Daniel?” Garth asked. “I have been so many road trips with the Basement Tapes and the first two Burrito Brothers records on one cassette,” I responded, “and now you guys are in my car!”

Garth and I sat in one booth, and Pete and Jeff sat across from us. We all talked records. At one point, Rick Danko came up in conversation. I tried not to to bring up the Band, as I knew that every fan had done that with Garth that night. Garth smiled at the thought of Rick, paused, and looked up at me. “You and Rick would’ve gotten on great,” Garth told me. “You both like to laugh.” I have no idea how I kept it together after that. I thanked him for saying that, but inside, I was a puddle on the floor.

I dropped off the band at their hotel, and Garth said as he got out of the car, “Man, talking to you tonight has really inspired me on some things.” I thanked him for all of his years of inspiration.! I eventually went home, got up the next morning for a video shoot, and proceeded to have one of the worst shoots in my life. Subjects throwing hissy fits, you name it. Would I have changed a thing about the night before? Not on your life.

Farewell to one of the most remarkable musicians and minds I have ever had the honor of meeting. Let us know what its like up there, Garth, and what their record collection is like. Safe travels, from your friend in North Carolina. Until I photograph you again, some sunny day.

-Daniel

January 21, 2024