Steely Dan Keyboardist Jim Beard Dies At 63

Quote:OAN’s Brooke Mallory
2:50 PM – Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Jim Beard, a musician who spent the previous 16 years touring as Steely Dan’s keyboardist and performing solo, has passed away at the age of 63.

“Beard is survived by his two children, son Victor and daughter Caitlin Beard, and by his mother, Sarah, sister Nancy Canale, and brother, Bill Beard,” according to People Magazine.

The pianist, composer, keyboardist, and producer passed away on March 2nd as a result of “complications from a sudden illness,” according to a statement released by the band on Wednesday, March 6th.

The cause of death was not disclosed at the time of publication.

In addition to performing with the jazz-influenced rock group, which included his last gig on January 20th in Phoenix, Arizona, Beard also toured with the Eagles on their Long Goodbye tour in 2008 after joining the live Steely Dan band for the Think Fast Tour.

Beard was born on August 26th, 1960, in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. As a teenager, he studied jazz at Indiana University and excelled at playing the clarinet, saxophone, and sting bass. He also played in a bar band with trumpet player Chris Botti and session drummer Kenny Aronoff, who has also worked with John Mellencamp and John Fogerty.

An official biography of the now-deceased musician states that Beard began a busy career of composing after relocating to New York in 1985. He collaborated with musicians like Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, and John McLaughlin on tracks.

In addition, he composed music for TV and film scores and performed with the Metropole Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Meshell Ndegeocello, Dianne Reeves, Al Jarreau, and rock guitar virtuoso Steve Vai on recordings.

In between his tours with Metheny and McLaughlin’s Mahavishu Orchestra, Beard taught at the Sibelius Academy in Finland, the Mason Gross School of Arts at Rutgers University, the Aaron Copland School of Music in New York, and the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He also released six solo CDs.

Additionally, Beard’s productions and compositions were nominated for seven Grammy awards. In 2007, he was awarded a Grammy for his rendition of Randy and Michael Brecker’s “Some Skunk Funk.”

“It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of our friend and colleague,” Steely Dan said in a joint statement, with the group currently led by co-founder Donald Fagen.

https://www.oann.com/newsroom/steely-dan...ies-at-63/

(03-06-2024 07:50 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote:  Steely Dan Keyboardist Jim Beard Dies At 63

Quote:OAN’s Brooke Mallory
2:50 PM – Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Jim Beard, a musician who spent the previous 16 years touring as Steely Dan’s keyboardist and performing solo, has passed away at the age of 63.

“Beard is survived by his two children, son Victor and daughter Caitlin Beard, and by his mother, Sarah, sister Nancy Canale, and brother, Bill Beard,” according to People Magazine.

The pianist, composer, keyboardist, and producer passed away on March 2nd as a result of “complications from a sudden illness,” according to a statement released by the band on Wednesday, March 6th.

The cause of death was not disclosed at the time of publication.

In addition to performing with the jazz-influenced rock group, which included his last gig on January 20th in Phoenix, Arizona, Beard also toured with the Eagles on their Long Goodbye tour in 2008 after joining the live Steely Dan band for the Think Fast Tour.

Beard was born on August 26th, 1960, in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. As a teenager, he studied jazz at Indiana University and excelled at playing the clarinet, saxophone, and sting bass. He also played in a bar band with trumpet player Chris Botti and session drummer Kenny Aronoff, who has also worked with John Mellencamp and John Fogerty.

An official biography of the now-deceased musician states that Beard began a busy career of composing after relocating to New York in 1985. He collaborated with musicians like Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, and John McLaughlin on tracks.

In addition, he composed music for TV and film scores and performed with the Metropole Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Meshell Ndegeocello, Dianne Reeves, Al Jarreau, and rock guitar virtuoso Steve Vai on recordings.

In between his tours with Metheny and McLaughlin’s Mahavishu Orchestra, Beard taught at the Sibelius Academy in Finland, the Mason Gross School of Arts at Rutgers University, the Aaron Copland School of Music in New York, and the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He also released six solo CDs.

Additionally, Beard’s productions and compositions were nominated for seven Grammy awards. In 2007, he was awarded a Grammy for his rendition of Randy and Michael Brecker’s “Some Skunk Funk.”

“It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of our friend and colleague,” Steely Dan said in a joint statement, with the group currently led by co-founder Donald Fagen.

https://www.oann.com/newsroom/steely-dan...ies-at-63/

Way too young! But, reincarnation may be applicable. "He'll go back, Jack, do it again, wheels turning round and round!"

Singer Steve Lawrence Half Of The Duo Steve and Eydie, Dead at 88

He sang with Eydie Gorme.





Go Away Little Girl was his number 1 hit.

Steve Lawrence also was in both Blues Brothers movies, and played Fran's father in the tv comedy The Nanny. He appeared on The Carol Burnett Show, The MDA Telethon, Ocean's Eleven, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson as guest host, Tattletales gameshow with Eydie, Whats My Line, The Steve Lawrence Show, Password, and many others.

RIP Eric Carmen

Eric Carmen, who became an icon of early ’70s power pop as the frontman of the Raspberries before achieving solo success with hits like “All By Myself” and “Hungry Eyes,” has died at age 74.

https://variety.com/2024/music/obituarie...235938937/

(03-12-2024 01:29 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

They truly had a unique sound when the burst on the scene in 1974. I'm kind of accustomed to hearing about the deaths of musicians from the 60's and even earlier that I followed. Now that those in the 70's are beginning to fall it hitting closer to home.

Artist: Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel
Album: The Best Years of Our Lives
Song: "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)"
Songwriter: Steve Harley
January 31, 1975 EMI Records




Stephen Malcolm Ronald Nice (27 February 1951 – 17 March 2024), known by his stage name "Steve Harley", was an English singer, songwriter and frontman of the glam rock group Cockney Rebel. He scored five UK hit singles with the band in the mid-1970s, including "Judy Teen", "Mr. Soft" and the number one "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)". R.I.P.


Of course, this was my first rememberance of hearing the tune...

Artist: Duran Duran
Album: B-Side of 12" 'The Reflex' Single
Song: "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)"
Songwriter: Steve Harley
(recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, November 16, 1982 EMI Records/ Capitol Records

Thomas Patten Stafford (September 17, 1930 – March 18, 2024) was an American Air Force officer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut, and one of 24 astronauts who flew to the Moon. He also served as Chief of the Astronaut Office from 1969 to 1971.

Oklahoma astronaut Tom Stafford known for Apollo 10 mission dies at 93

North Texas adman turned ‘Benji’ filmmaker Joe Camp dies at 84

After Hollywood shut him out, Camp scored a smash hit anyway with his movie about a lovable stray dog.



Shows you can go against Hollywood values and still be wildly successful and popular...

Karl Wallinger of World Party died today at 66.
This was their only hit on the Hot 100 Billboards chart in 87.

M. Emmett Walsh

M. Emmet Walsh, a veteran character actor who appeared in more than 150 films including “Blade Runner,” “Blood Simple” and “Knives Out” and played Dermot Mulroney’s dad in “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” has died.

His manager Sandy Joseph confirmed that he died Tuesday in Vermont. He was 88.

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/m-emmet...5947723/#!

I remember him from "The Jerk" - Stay away from the cans!

George William Samuel Abbey (August 21, 1932 – March 24, 2024) was an American engineer who was director of the Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Fellow in Space Policy at the Baker Institute of Rice University.

FLY HIGH George Abbey dead at 91: Legendary NASA director & ‘father of modern spaceflight’ mourned after decades-long career

Abbey was a crucial figure in the Apollo program, which saw the first man to land on the Moon during the late 1960s

(03-27-2024 01:09 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

George William Samuel Abbey (August 21, 1932 – March 24, 2024) was an American engineer who was director of the Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Fellow in Space Policy at the Baker Institute of Rice University.

FLY HIGH George Abbey dead at 91: Legendary NASA director & ‘father of modern spaceflight’ mourned after decades-long career

Abbey was a crucial figure in the Apollo program, which saw the first man to land on the Moon during the late 1960s

Ever get the feeling that the last true Americans are being called home to be spared the coming storm?

Land of The Lost Actor, Ron Harper, Dead At 91


He played Uncle Jack on the 70s kids show.





He was also on the tv show Planet of the Apes as well.

Former Senator (D/I-CT) and 2000 Democratic nominee for Vice-President Joe Lieberman -

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/poli...124277007/

Quote: I loved Lou. We did The Choirboys in an ensemble, and then later starred together in Diggstown. That experience cemented a lifelong friendship. I had always admired his fabulous talent, but grew to admire his modest demeanor more. A true gentleman. #RIP https://t.co/Bho6P5AwSC
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) March 29, 2024

Actress Barbara Rush, Dead at 97


She starred in It Came From Outer Space and Peyton Place. Some of her leading men in films were Dean Martin, Kirk Douglas and more.

James Ross MacDonald (February 27, 1923 – March 30, 2024) was an American physicist, who was instrumental in building up the Central Research laboratories of Texas Instruments (TI).

Joe Flaherty, Actor on Freaks and Geeks and SCTV, Dead at 82