Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist Richard Tandy has died aged 76.
Jeff Lynne announced his ‘dear friend’ and longtime ELO bandmate had passed away in a Facebook post on Wednesday evening.
Lynne said: ‘It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing 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.
‘Sending all my love to Sheila & the Tandy Family.’
Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist Richard Tandy has died aged 76
Jeff Lynne announced his ‘dear friend’ and longtime ELO bandmate had passed away in a Facebook post on Wednesday evening
Lynne said: ‘It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of my long-time collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy.’
Tributes have poured in for the keyboardist on social media, with one fan penning: ‘Thank you for all the years of pure happiness your music has given met RIP Richard Tandy’;
‘So sad to hear the sad news of Richard Tandy passing. Another one of the ELO famous 7 to go… RIP Richard. Your light will shine on forever’
Tandy was born on March 26 1948 in Birmingham and educated at Moseley School, where he first met future bandmate Bev Bevan.
He joined ELO as a bassist in 1972 before becoming the band’s full-time keyboardist.
He remained in the group until it was disbanded by Lynne in 1986, after the Balance Of Power album was released.
Lynne and Tandy reformed the band briefly in 2000, after the release of the album Zoom, and again during the band’s final resurrection in 2014.
No other former members joined the pair during their most recent runs of success.
He joined ELO as a bassist in 1972 before becoming the band’s full-time keyboardist
Drummer Bev Bevan, singer, songwriter and musician Jeff Lynne, and keyboard player Richard pictured in 1985
He was also part of ELO’s set on Radio 2’s Festival In A Day in September 2014, and played a piano solo on the song from Lynne’s ELO 2019 album
Tributes have poured in for the keyboardist on social media, with one fan penning: ‘Thank you for all the years of pure happiness your music has given met RIP Richard Tandy’
Tandy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 7 April 2017 as a member of Electric Light Orchestra.
In 2013, Tandy joined Lynne in performing two songs for Children In Need Rocks, Livin’ Thing and Mr Blue Sky.
He was also part of ELO’s set on Radio 2’s Festival In A Day in September 2014, and played a piano solo on the song from Lynne’s ELO 2019 album.
Tandy is survived by his second wife Sheila and was said to have been living in Wales.
