Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist Richard Tandy passes away at 76
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The music world has lost another of its stars as we bid farewell to Richard Tandy, the legendary keyboardist of the iconic rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
At 76, Tandy's passing was announced with heartfelt words from his longtime collaborator and friend, Jeff Lynne.
‘It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of my long-time collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy,’ Lynne wrote.
'He was a remarkable musician and friend, and I'll cherish the lifetime of memories we had together. Sending all my love to Sheila and the Tandy family.’
Born on March 26, 1948, in Birmingham, England, Richard Tandy's journey into music history began at Moseley School, where he first crossed paths with his future bandmate, drummer Bev Bevan.
Tandy joined the band as a bassist in 1972, two years after Lynne, Bevan, and Roy Wood formed ELO. However, it wasn't long before he found his true calling within the group as their full-time keyboardist.
Tandy's influence on ELO's sound was profound.
His keyboard artistry helped to shape the band's distinctive style, leaving an indelible mark on albums such as A New World Record (1976), Out of the Blue (1977), Discovery (1979), and Time (1981).
Despite the band's disbandment in 1986, Tandy's legacy continued to resonate. He briefly reunited with Lynne in 2000 for the release of Zoom (2001) and again in 2014 for Alone in the Universe (2015).
No other former ELO members joined them during these later projects.
The pinnacle of recognition for Tandy's contributions came in 2017 when he, alongside Wood, Lynne, and Bevan, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Electric Light Orchestra.
Richard Tandy is survived by his second wife, Sheila.
You can listen to the performance of Jeff Lyne and Richard Tandy below:
Credit: WUstream / YouTube
Let us all take a moment to appreciate Richard Tandy's legacy, which will continue to echo in our hearts. May he rest in peace.
Do you have a favourite ELO song? Perhaps you had the chance to see them perform live? Share your stories in the comments below.
At 76, Tandy's passing was announced with heartfelt words from his longtime collaborator and friend, Jeff Lynne.
‘It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of my long-time collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy,’ Lynne wrote.
'He was a remarkable musician and friend, and I'll cherish the lifetime of memories we had together. Sending all my love to Sheila and the Tandy family.’
ELO keyboardist Richard Tandy passed away at 76. Credit: Wikipedia
Born on March 26, 1948, in Birmingham, England, Richard Tandy's journey into music history began at Moseley School, where he first crossed paths with his future bandmate, drummer Bev Bevan.
Tandy joined the band as a bassist in 1972, two years after Lynne, Bevan, and Roy Wood formed ELO. However, it wasn't long before he found his true calling within the group as their full-time keyboardist.
Tandy's influence on ELO's sound was profound.
His keyboard artistry helped to shape the band's distinctive style, leaving an indelible mark on albums such as A New World Record (1976), Out of the Blue (1977), Discovery (1979), and Time (1981).
Despite the band's disbandment in 1986, Tandy's legacy continued to resonate. He briefly reunited with Lynne in 2000 for the release of Zoom (2001) and again in 2014 for Alone in the Universe (2015).
No other former ELO members joined them during these later projects.
The pinnacle of recognition for Tandy's contributions came in 2017 when he, alongside Wood, Lynne, and Bevan, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Electric Light Orchestra.
Richard Tandy is survived by his second wife, Sheila.
You can listen to the performance of Jeff Lyne and Richard Tandy below:
Credit: WUstream / YouTube
Do you have a favourite ELO song? Perhaps you had the chance to see them perform live? Share your stories in the comments below.
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