Richard Tandy, musician who helped shape ELO’s futuristic sound, dies aged 76

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Richard Tandy, the keyboard player for Electric Light Orchestra, who combined upbeat pop music, reminiscent of the Beatles, with elaborate symphonic arrangements has passed away at the age of 76, as stated by his fellow band member Jeff Lynne.

The lead singer of ELO expressed his admiration for the talented musician in a social media post on Instagram. He described Tandy as both a valued colleague and a close companion, acknowledging their lengthy partnership.

With profound sorrow, I announce the unfortunate news of the demise of my dear friend and collaborator Richard Tandy. Lynne expressed with heartfelt emotions that he was an extraordinary musician and a close confidant. I will always treasure the remarkable moments we shared throughout our lives.

"I am sending my utmost affection to Sheila and the entire Tandy household."

Tandy played a crucial role in creating the distinctive futuristic sound of the well-known British rock band. They gained popularity from songs like "Mr Blue Sky" and "Last Train To London." Tandy's energetic and powerful piano creations added life and spirit to the band's music.

Tandy created memorable musical phrases that were featured in many of ELO's top tracks. Critic Donald A Guarisco, who wrote for the All Music Guide, was quoted in The New York Times acknowledging Tandy's contributions to the song "Evil Woman". Guarisco specifically noted Tandy's use of a "groovy clavinet melody that competes with the vocalists" during the chorus, which elevated the song into a complex and catchy pop record.

Hailing from Birmingham, he became a part of ELO after the band's first release, The Electric Light Orchestra, in 1971. He had previously crossed paths with drummer Bev Bevan while in school.

The Greyhound performance was quite remarkable. The initial song "10538" was enjoyable, but the transitions between the songs became intricate, and it all turned into a mess. This is what he reminisced about in an interview he gave for a fanzine in 1999. He stated that, after that point, the band kept producing good music, one after the other, in his opinion.

At first, he was a bass player, but when co-founder Roy Wood left to create Wizzard, he switched to being the keyboardist. He played a significant part in developing their futuristic, progressive rock sound by using various instruments such as the Wurlitzer electronic piano, Minimoog synthesizer, Clavinet, Mellotron, and piano.

During its various lineup changes, ELO consistently included Tandy as a key member alongside Lynne and Bevan. Tandy stayed with the band until its dissolution in 1986, and was the sole bandmate to join Lynne for the 2001 album Zoom. This record also boasted special appearances from George Harrison and Ringo Starr as guest musicians.

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He was part of every ELO album except for No Answer released in 1971. The group has sold over 50 million records globally and accomplished 27 Top 40 singles. In 2012, he and Lynne met again to produce a live performance of ELO's greatest hits at Lynne's home studio called Bungalow Palace that was broadcasted on television.

Tandy became a part of Jeff Lynne's ELO again in 2014 after Lynne reestablished the group. Together, they entertained an immense crowd outdoors in Hyde Park, London.

When questioned about why he chose to bring back only Tandy as an original member, Lynne explained in a Rolling Stone interview from 2015 that Tandy has been a lifelong member of the group. He has been present in the studio with Lynne when others were not.

"It's simply my decision," he added. "He's a remarkable musician, a talented pianist, and I genuinely appreciate spending time with him."

In 2017, Tandy was made a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the group. This happened alongside Lynne, Bevan, and Wood. At the time, Tandy was acknowledged as Lynne's "valuable musical partner" and served as a multi-instrumentalist and co-orchestrator.

According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Tandy played a critical role in establishing a musical space where both rock and classical genres could coexist. This statement was made following the announcement of the musician's passing.

Tandy's death occurred only a month after Lynne disclosed the final tour of ELO, called The Over and Out Tour, that was intended to start in North America in August of this year. However, they have not yet announced any dates in Europe and the UK.

He performed "Mr Blue Sky" for the very last time during his final show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in 2016.

His second spouse, Sheila, is still alive.