Garth Hudson, best known for his role with “The Band,” died Tuesday at the age of 87.

Jan Haust, Hudson’s longtime friend and colleague, confirmed his death to “Rolling Stone.” No cause of death was revealed, but he said Hudson “died peacefully” and “yesterday was a day of music and hand-holding.”

According to Variety, Hudson was known as the quiet member of the group that began as the Hawks, a backup band for rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins. Hudson supported Bob Dylan on his first rock tour in 1966 and served as the recording engineer for their legendary “basement tapes” in West Saugerties.

“Rolling Stone” described Hudson as a “virtuoso multi-instrumentalist best known for his distinctive organ and saxophone work.”

Hudson, guitarist Robbie Robertson, bassist-singer Rick Danko, pianist Richard Manuel and drummer-singer Levon Helm formed The Band and released their first album, “Music from Big Pink,” partly based on those tapes with Dylan. The 1968 release featured “The Weight” and “I Shall Be Released,” while other songs were released in 1975 as “The Basement Tapes” with Dylan and The Band.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.