Longtime Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist Richard Tandy has died, aged 76

2 May, 2024

Richard Tandy, the longtime keyboardist for Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), has died at the age of 76.

Tandy’s former bandmate and the founder of ELO Jeff Lynne broke the news on social media on Wednesday night (May 1), writing: “It is with great sadness that I share the news of the pass of my long-time collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy. He was a remarkable musician & friend and I’ll cherish the lifetime of memories we had together.”

A cause of death has yet to be revealed.

Tandy joined Electric Light Orchestra after the release of the band’s debut album in 1972. He had initially played bass guitar in the band but soon became the group’s permanent keyboardist.

Through ever-changing line-ups, Tandy remained a core member with Lynne and ELO drummer Bev Bevan until the band’s split in 1986. Tandy was the only other longtime member of the group besides Lynne to participate in the band’s reunion in the 2000s, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Electric Light Orchestra in 2017. Tandy’s tenure with ELO run from 1972 until 1896, 2000 until 2001 for the band’s reunion and finally between 2014 and 2017.

Richard Tandy is perhaps best known for his contributions on several of ELO’s biggest hits which have gone on to become classics such as ‘Mr. Blue Sky’, ‘Xanadu’ with Olivia Newton-John, ‘Evil Woman’, ‘Telephone Line’, ‘Strange Magic’ and more.

Lynne and Tandy had also also collaborated on non-ELO projects, including the Electric Dreams soundtrack. In 2015, Lynne and Tandy performed with Ed Sheeran at the 57th Grammy Awards, playing ‘Evil Woman’ and ‘Mr. Blue Sky’.

In 1985, Tandy formed the Tandy Morgan Band with Dave Morgan and Martin Smith, both of whom were touring members for ELO. In 1985, the Tandy Morgan Band released the concept album ‘Earthrise’.

Following the news of Richard Tandy’s death, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has paid tribute to the late keyboardist.

“Keyboardist Richard Tandy was an integral part of the sound of 2017 inductees Electric Light Orchestra,” the Rock Hall wrote on X. “Playing a range of keyboard instruments, his riffs provided the foundation for hits like ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ and ‘Evil Woman’. Tandy was crucial in ELO’s creation of a realm where rock and classical music could exist together.”

The post Longtime Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist Richard Tandy has died, aged 76 appeared first on NME.