Jim Beard, Steely Dan Keyboardist, Dies at 63

Jim Beard, a keyboardist who performed with Steely Dan, has died at the age of 63. According to a press release, the composer, producer and arranger died on March 2 “from complications due to a sudden illness.”

The musician has been a touring performer with Steely Dan since 2008. Most not too long ago, he was on tour with the band as they supported the Eagles on their Long Goodbye tour. His final present with them was on Jan. 20 in Phoenix.

Beard was born on Aug. 26, 1960, in Philadelphia. By his teenagers, he was finding out 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 Red Rodney.

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In 1985 Beard moved to New York City, the place he continued to choose up gigs and play dwell and within the studio with jazz and fusion musicians.

Who Else Did Keyboardist Jim Beard Play With?

He grew to become a touring member of guitarist John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu within the mid-’80s and began working with saxophonist Wayne Shorter in 1986. Over the subsequent half-decade, Beard toured with jazz guitarists Joe Scofield and Pat Metheny.

Around this time, Beard launched the primary of his solo albums, 1990’s Song of the Sun. More than a half-dozen adopted till a couple of years in the past.

He stayed busy over the a long time writing, arranging and performing 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 recruited by Steely Dan as their touring keyboardist; he additionally carried out on solo works by late Steely Dan co-founder and guitarist Walter Becker.

The assertion saying Beard’s demise notes that he died in a New York hospital “surrounded by loved ones” and is survived by a son, daughter, his mom and a brother and sister.

Steely Dan missed some dates on the Eagles tour final fall when chief Donald Fagen fell sick and was within the hospital. The tour will play Chicago this weekend.