Steely Dan Keyboardist Jim Beard Passes Away at 63

Steely Dan keyboardist Jim Beard has passed away at the age of 63. Born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, Beard was not only a keyboardist but also a pianist, composer, producer, and arranger. His extensive repertoire included over 100 compositions 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. 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.