Richard Tandy, the keyboardist for the British rock band Electric Light Orchestra, whose riffs helped define the futuristic blend of Beatles-esque pop and orchestral arrangements that catapulted the group to global fame in the 1970s, has died. Mr. Lynne, who called Mr. Tandy his “longtime collaborator,” did not specify when Mr. Tandy had died or the cause of death. Born on March 26, 1948, in Birmingham, England, Mr. Tandy first entered the orbit of E.L.O. by playing the harpsichord in a band with Bev Bevan, who would later become E.L.O.’s drummer. after the release of its first album in 1972, initially playing bass guitar but later becoming the group’s keyboardist after another founding member left.

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Persons: Richard Tandy, Jeff Lynne, Lynne, Tandy, ”, Bev Bevan, ’ Organizations: Orchestra, E.L.O Locations: British, Birmingham, England