Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist Richard Tandy, who shaped much of the British rock band’s sound, has died at the age of 76.
His death was announced by ELO leader Jeff Lynne, who wrote on social media: “He was a great musician and friend. We will cherish the memories we shared together for a lifetime.” His cause of death has not been disclosed.
It is with great sadness that I share the news that my long-time collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy has passed away. He was a great musician and friend. I want to cherish the memories we spent together for the rest of my life.
Sending love to Sheila and the Thandi family.
Jeff… pic.twitter.com/beOF3JR39E
— Jeff Lynne’s ELO (@JeffLynnesELO) May 1, 2024
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It is with great sadness that I share the news that my long-time collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy has passed away. He was a great musician and friend. I want to cherish the memories we spent together for the rest of my life.
Sending all my love to Sheila and the Thandi family.
Jeff… pic.twitter.com/beOF3JR39E— Jeff Lynne’s ELO (@JeffLynnesELO) May 1, 2024
Born in Birmingham in 1948, Tandy met his future ELO bandmate Bev Bevan at school. He was scouted by Bevan to play harpsichord on Move’s 1968 single ‘Blackberry Way’, which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.
In 1972, Tandy joined Electric Light Orchestra, which had been formed two years earlier as a side project of Move. Tandy, along with Lynn and Bevan, was one of three core members of ELO. He remained with ELO until it disbanded in 1986.
Tandy initially played bass guitar in ELO before becoming the band’s keyboard player. He plays his Minimoog synthesizer, Wurlitzer electric piano, clavinet, mellotron, and piano, and played a key role in shaping the band’s unique prog-rock, futuristic space-he operatic sound.
During the years they recorded and toured, ELO sold over 50 million records worldwide, with 27 songs in the top 40 of the UK singles chart and 15 songs in the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. and still holds the record for the most. Hot 100 hits without a No. 1.
Tandy was Lynn’s right-hand man in the studio, helping with string arrangements and providing backing vocals, and appeared on all ELO albums except 1971’s No Answer. When Bevan tried to reform ELO in 1988, Tandy and Lynn refused to participate. Bevan would go on to form the band ELO Part II, later known as The Orchestra. When Lynn reformed the band as Jeff Lynne’s ELO in 2014, Tandy rejoined.
Tandy and Lynne also collaborated on projects outside of ELO, including the soundtrack for Electric Dreams.
In 1985, Tandy formed the Tandy Morgan Band with former ELO musicians Dave Morgan and Martin Smith, and released a concept album entitled Earthrise.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 as a member of ELO, along with Lynn, Bevan, and Roy Wood, who co-founded the group before leaving to form Wizards in 1972.
