The last of the five members of the iconic American rock group, The Band, Garth Hudson’s death is the end of an era.

My first date with Dianna — best friend, wife and frequent editor — was to see The Band. She introduced me to the legendary rock group’s music, and we went to their 1970 concert in Madison, Wisc.

AHudson was a classically trained performer who played piano, synthesizers, horns and his favored Lowrey organ.

Keyboardist-drummer Richard Manuel hung himself in 1986, bassist Rick Danko died in his sleep in 1999 and drummer Levon Helm died of cancer in 2012. The Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll ...