Richard Tandy, the longtime keyboardist of the Electric Light Orchestra, has passed away at the age of 76. The news comes after Jeff Lynne announced a farewell tour for the group.
Lynne took to his official X account to share the news, writing, "It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of my longtime collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy. He was a remarkable musician & friend, and I'll cherish the lifetime of memories we had together."
Tandy was an essential part of ELO as he appeared and worked on all of the group's albums except two.
Initially, he played played bass, but he later became a keyboardist in 1972 and stuck with the role.
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.
— Jeff Lynne's ELO (@JeffLynnesELO) May 1, 2024
Sending all my love to Sheila & the Tandy family.
Jeff… pic.twitter.com/beOF3JR39E
Aside from piano, he played Clavinet, the Minimoog, and Mellotron, which contributed heavily to the band's unique sound, especially in their album Out of the Blue. He worked closely with Lynne on some of the arrangements and sang backing vocals.
The Electric Light Orchestra split in 1986 but reunited in 2014.
Who Was Richard Tandy?
Richard Tandy was born in Birmingham on March 23, 1947.
When he became ELO's keyboardist, he was applauded for his unique take on playing the instrument as he helped his group mix their progressive rock sound with pop inspired by the Beatles.
In addition to working with the Electric Light Orchestra, the musician was also a member of the Tandy Morgan Band, which released its album Earthrise in 1985.
Jeff Lynne's ELO Launching Farewell Tour This Year
The recent news comes after Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra announced they will go on their final tour.
The band will kick off their series of farewell shows at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA, on August 24, 2024, before visiting cities such as Vancouver, Seattle, Palm Desert, San Francisco, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Toronto, Pittsburgh, and many more.
Billed as the Over and Out Tour, the band's last scheduled show will be at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, CA, on October 25, 2024.
More details about tickets and the complete tour dates are available on their official website.
