Jim Beard, Keyboardist for Steely Dan, Dies at 63

Jim Beard, a Grammy-winning keyboardist, author and participant of Steely Dan because 2008, passed away Saturday in a New york city healthcare facility of problems from an unexpected health problem, a press agent revealed. He was 63.

Beard had actually been visiting with Donald Fagen’s Steely Dan on the Eagles’ present “Long Goodbye” trip; his last efficiency was Jan. 20 in Phoenix az.

Beard functioned together with such jazz tales as Wayne Much shorter, Rub Metheny and John McLaughlin and taped with the similarity Dizzy Gillespie, The Brecker Brothers, Dianne Reeves, Meshell Ndegeocello and Steve Vai throughout his job.

He created for Chick Corea, Al Jarreau and Esperanza Spalding and showed at establishments consisting of the Mason Gross College of Arts, Berklee University of Songs, Aaron Copland College of Songs and the Sibelius Academy in Finland.

Beard taped 6 solo CDs covering the years 1990-2013 and won his Grammy in 2007 as a highlighted entertainer on the cd Some Skunk Funk, from Randy and Michael Brecker.

Beard was born upon Aug. 26, 1960, in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. He went to Indiana College and dealt with acts consisting of Connie Stevens, Roger Miller and Bobby Rydell prior to starting a business in New york city in 1985.

Survivors include his kids, Victor and Caitlin; his mom, Sarah; his sis, Nancy; and his sibling, Costs.

Metheny called Beard “one of the few people around whose insight into the past is complete enough to take him to the future, and with a highly refined and subtle musicality at work, he is one musician from whom I always await each new release with anticipation.”