Tandy, who was born in Birmingham, was responsible for helping to shape the sound of the British rock band, best known for hits such as Mr Blue Sky and Last Train To London.
Lynne wrote on social media: “It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of my long-time collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy.“Sending all my love to Sheila & the Tandy family.”He initially played bass guitar but became the keyboardist after Roy Wood left. He also played the Minimoog synthesiser, a Wurlitzer electric piano, the clavinet, Mellotron and piano, to help shape the band’s unique futuristic sound.He was a core member of the band through ever-evolving line-ups, alongside Lynne and drummer Bev Bevan, until they split in 1986.He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2017, and was described as Lynne’s “multi-instrumentalist, co-orchestrator and valued musical partner”.
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