Hudson was first approached by Ronnie Hawkins and Levon Helm in the summer of 1961, after a Kapers show in London, and asked to join the Hawks, an offer he declined. The Hawks persisted, and in December 1961, Hudson agreed to join the band on two conditions: that Hawkins buy him a Lowrey organ, and that he be paid an extra $10 a week by each of the other band members to give music lessons to the other Hawks.
Yes... he was the musical backbone of The Band.. sort of how John Paul Jones was for Led Zeppelin. Not as heralded as Helm or Robertson but musically very gifted.
I just read that to the tune of “The night they drove old Dixie down “.
A truly classic song.
TM