Jim Beard dies at the age of 63: Steely Dan keyboardist dies ‘of complications due to a sudden illness’
- The composer and producer died Saturday, March 2, in a New York City hospital from complications resulting from a sudden illness
- Beard has been a member of Steely Dan since 2008 and also recently toured with legendary band The Eagles for their Long Goodbye tour.
- Bear’s last performance with Steely Dan was on January 20 in Phoenix
Musician Jim Beard – known for his work with Steely Dan – has died at the age of 63, it has been confirmed.
The composer and producer died Saturday, March 2, in a New York City hospital from complications resulting from a sudden illness. Deadline reports.
Beard has been a member of Steely Dan since 2008 and also recently toured with legendary band The Eagles for their Long Goodbye tour.
Bear’s last performance with Steely Dan was on January 20 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Musician Jim Beard, known for his work with Steely Dan, has died aged 63, it has been confirmed
He performs with Steely Dann in New York City in July 2017
He was born on August 26, 1960 in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania before moving to New York to pursue a music career.
It was there where he first started working with Steely Dan, Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin and Wayne Shorter.
A prolific studio musician, Beard also recorded with artists such as Steve Vai, The Brecker Brothers, Dianne Reeves, Dizzy Gillespie, Meshell Ndegeocello and Toninoho Horta.
In addition, the musician has also published more than 100 compositions that appear on recordings by Michael Brecker, John McLaughlin and several others.
He also published compositions for books, including The New Real Book from 2005.
According to Deadline, Beard has also appeared with the Metropole Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and has performed at major festivals including JVC, Montreux, Live Under the Sky, North Sea, Montreal and on stages including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Blue Note (New York and Japan), CBGBs, Montmartre, and many more.
Beard (left) is seen decades ago with fellow Steely Dan member Jon Herrington
His writing has also been used in television, films and even radio broadcasts.
In addition, his piano playing can also be heard in many major Hollywood film scores.
Some of the production companies that have used his work include Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, NBC, ABC, CBS, Blue Note, Verve, and Columbia.
As if that wasn’t enough, the talented musician had also produced dozens of recordings for artists such as Bill Evans, Eliane Elias, Bob Berg, Mike Stern and others.