Richard Tandy: Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist dies aged 76 | Ents & Arts News

Richard Tandy, the keyboardist in Electrical Mild Orchestra (ELO), has died on the age of 76.

His demise was introduced by ELO chief Jeff Lynne, who paid tribute to a “outstanding musician”.

Lynne wrote on X: “It’s with nice unhappiness that I share the information of the passing of my long-time collaborator and expensive pal Richard Tandy.

“He was a outstanding musician & pal and I am going to cherish the lifetime of reminiscences we had collectively.

“Sending all my like to Sheila & the Tandy household.”

Tandy helped form the sound of the British rock band, finest identified for hits akin to Mr Blue Sky and Final Prepare To London.

The Birmingham-born musician joined ELO after the discharge of the band’s first album in 1972 and initially performed bass guitar however grew to become the keyboardist after Roy Wooden left.

Tandy additionally performed the Minimoog synthesiser, a Wurlitzer electrical piano, the clavinet, Mellotron and piano.

He additionally lent his voice to the 1977 hit Mr Blue Sky and was a core member of the band by means of its ever-evolving line-ups, alongside Lynne and drummer Bev Bevan.

The band break up in 1986 however when Lynne reformed the group as Jeff Lynne’s ELO in 2014, Tandy rejoined.

Tandy was inducted into the Cleveland-based Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame with the band in 2017, and was described as Lynne’s “multi-instrumentalist, co-orchestrator and valued musical associate”.

The museum in Ohio wrote in a submit on X: “Keyboardist Richard Tandy was an integral a part of the sound of 2017 Inductees Electrical Mild Orchestra.”

It added: “Tandy was essential in ELO’s creation of a realm the place rock and classical music may exist collectively.”