Richard Tandy, ELO’s Longtime Keyboardist and the Voice of ‘Mr. Blue Sky,’ Dies at 76
variety.comJem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Richard Tandy, the keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist whose tenure with the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) spanned more than 50 years, has died, according to a statement from Jeff Lynne, the group’s frontman and co-founder.
No cause of death was given, although sources said he had been ill for several years; he was 76. “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 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the group in 2017.
While a low-key visual presence, Tandy — who joined the group in 1973, after the release of its debut album — made a mighty contribution to ELO’s trademark sound, his soaring synthesizers, regal piano and funk-influenced clavinet bringing alternately classical and soulful touches to hits from “Evil Woman” and “Strange Magic” to “Livin’ Thing” and “Telephone Line.” And that’s his vocoder-altered voice saying “Mr.
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