Jim Beard, a keyboardist who performed with Steely Dan, has died on the age of 63. In step with a remark, the composer, manufacturer and arranger died on March 2 “from headaches because of a surprising sickness.”
The musician has been a traveling performer with Steely Dan since 2008. Maximum lately, he was once on excursion with the band as they supported the Eagles on their Lengthy Good-bye excursion. His ultimate display with them was once on Jan. 20 in Phoenix.
Beard was once born on Aug. 26, 1960, in Philadelphia. Through his teenagers, he was once learning arranging with jazz composer and trombonist Don Sebesky and the piano with British keyboardist George Shearing. In school, he performed with jazz musicians Slide Hampton and Pink Rodney.
READ MORE: Steely Dan Albums Ranked
In 1985 Beard moved to New York Town, the place he persevered to pick out up gigs and play are living and within the studio with jazz and fusion musicians.
Who Else Did Keyboardist Jim Beard Play With?
He become a traveling member of guitarist John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu within the mid-’80s and set to work with saxophonist Wayne Shorter in 1986. Over the following half-decade, Beard toured with jazz guitarists Joe Scofield and Pat Metheny.
Round this time, Beard launched the primary of his solo albums, 1990’s Tune of the Solar. Greater than a half-dozen adopted till a couple of years in the past.
He stayed busy over the a long time writing, arranging and appearing with dozens of artists, together with Bela Fleck, Al Jarreau, John Mayer, Meshell Ndegeocello, David Sanborn, Esperanza Spalding and Steve Vai. In 2008, he was once recruited via Steely Dan as their traveling keyboardist; he additionally carried out on solo works via overdue Steely Dan co-founder and guitarist Walter Becker.
The remark pronouncing Beard’s dying notes that he died in a New York sanatorium “surrounded via family members” and is survived via a son, daughter, his mom and a brother and sister.
Steely Dan overlooked some dates at the Eagles excursion ultimate fall when chief Donald Fagen fell sick and was once within the sanatorium. The excursion will play Chicago this weekend.
In Memoriam: 2024 Deaths
A take a look at the ones we’ve got misplaced in 2024.
Gallery Credit score: Allison Rapp
