Richard Tandy, the Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist, died on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The band’s frontman Jeff Lynne announced his passing, though a cause was not given. Tandy was 76 years old.

“It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of my long-time collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy,” Lynne wrote on social media. “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 spent over 50 years playing with Electric Light Orchestra, also known as ELO. He joined the band in 1973, bringing his piano, synthesizer, and clavinet skills to songs like “Strange Magic,” “Evil Woman,” “Telephone Line,” and “Livin’ Thing.” His voice, altered by the vocoder, is heard on their 1977 hit “Mr. Blue Sky.”

Tandy was playing with the band Move when he caught the attention of ELO drummer Bev Bevan. He played with the Move for a few years while also playing with ELO, first on bass and then on keyboards. Tandy remained with the band through its different iterations and style changes.

ELO saw their biggest success in the late 1970s with the albums, Out of the Blue, Discovery, and Balance of Power. The band reformed in 2001 and Tandy played on the new album Zoom and their tour. Years later he joined the latest reforming of the group to tour with them in the mid-2010s. He also played with Lynne on solo projects, including the Electric Dreams soundtrack.

Tandy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.