Electric Light Orchestra Keyboardist Richard Tandy Dead at 76

Richard Tandy

Richard Tandy, an English musician who was the keyboardist for the Birmingham rock band Electric Light Orchestra, also known as ELO, has passed away. He was 76 years old.

The sad news was shared by the founder of the band, Jeff Lynne, who wrote, "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. Jeff Lynne."

He also shared some fond memories of his friend and collaborator Tandy in the form of photos and a video. No cause of death has been shared. Tandy is survived by his wife Sheila.

Tandy, a talented musician who could play many different instruments, joined ELO in 1972, two years after the project first started, and he remained a core member of the group until his death. He first played bass guitar with the band before transitioning to his role as keyboardist.

Some of the group's hit songs over the years include, "Mr. Blue Sky," "Don't Bring Me Down," "Livin' Thing," and "Strange Magic," along with many more memorable tracks. Throughout the band's career, they reportedly sold over 50 million records worldwide.

In 1999, Tandy was asked about his favorite memories with ELO in an interview originally published in the King Of The Universe fanzine, via The ELO Network, to which he said, "For me, the period from 1971 - 1986 was fantastic, and I consider myself very lucky to have been a part of it."

The late keyboardist was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with fellow ELO members Lynne, Bev Bevan and Roy Wood in 2017.

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