ELECTRIC Light Orchestra keyboardist Richard Tandy has died aged 76 – with Jeff Lynne paying tribute to his “dear friend”.
Lynne announced his longtime ELO bandmate’s death in a Facebook post this evening.
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Lynne said: “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.”
Tandy joined ELO as a bassist in 1972 before becoming the band’s full-time keyboardist.
He first met his future bandmate Bev Bevan as pupils at the Moseley School in Birmingham.
He and Lynne were especially close, reuniting in 2012 for a live set of ELO’s greatest hits.
In 1985, Tandy formed the Tandy Morgan Band featuring Dave Morgan and Martin Smith.
ELO announced a farewell tour last month, but it is not yet known whether it will now go ahead.
Tandy is survived by his second wife Sheila and was said to have been living in Wales.
In an online tribute, one fan said: “Richard was a nice guy who took the time to give me a couple of autographs.
“He was so talented he could play three keyboards at the same time.”
