Steely Dan keyboardist Jim Beard has passed away at the age of 63, his representative confirmed to Fox News Digital. Beard, who last performed with the band in January, died in a New York hospital after complications from an illness, surrounded by loved ones.
Born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, on August 26, 1960, Beard was not only a keyboardist but also a pianist, composer, producer, and arranger. He gained recognition for his solo jazz music and collaborations with renowned artists like Wayne Shorter and John McLaughlin. His extensive repertoire included over 100 compositions that were featured in movies, TV, and radio call signals, with his work being utilized by prominent entities such as Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Blue Note, Verve, Columbia, NBC, ABC, and CBS/Sony.
Beard’s musical influence extended beyond the studio, as he performed with esteemed orchestras like the Metropole Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. His talent graced prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and the Royal Festival Hall in London. Throughout his career, Beard released six solo albums, with his final one being ‘Show of Hands’ in 2013.
His contributions to the music industry garnered him seven Grammy Award nominations, and he emerged victorious in 2007 as a featured performer on ‘Some Skunk Funk’ with the Brecker Brothers. Beard is survived by his son and daughter, Victor and Caitlin Beard, as well as his mother, Sarah, sister Nancy Canale, and brother, Bill Beard.
