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.
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.
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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.
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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.”
