Richard Tandy was the longtime Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist who voiced “Mr. Blue Sky” in their song of the same name.
- Died: May 1, 2024 (Who else died on May 1?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 76.
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Richard Tandy’s legacy
Born in Birmingham, England, Richard Tandy attended Moseley School and met musician Bev Bevan there, who years later would become his bandmate in Electric Light Orchestra. Tandy joined ELO in 1972, shortly after the release of their debut album, but initially played bass guitar. Switching to keyboards helped define the futuristic sound that launched them into the stratosphere.
The group went through several lineups, with Tandy, Bevan and Jeff Lynne the only members to be in all three of its incarnations. By the time they broke up in 1986, Tandy and ELO had scored 17 top 20 songs in the U.S., 20 top-40 hits, and had sold over 50 million records worldwide. Its hits include “Mr. Blue Sky,” “Evil Woman,” “Don’t Bring Me Down,” and “Xanadu” with Olivia Newton John (1948–2022).
Tandy launched his own band in 1985, the Tandy Morgan Band, and continued to perform with Lynne on and off over the years. He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside ELO in 2017.
Tributes to Richard Tandy
Full obituary: Variety
