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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Steely Dan announced on March 6, 2024, that its friend and colleague Jim Beard had died. The band’s notice, headed “JIM BEARD 1960 – 2024,” gave no cause of death. News reports citing a representative said Beard died March 2, aged 63, in a New York City hospital after complications from a sudden illness.
What Steely Dan and news reports said
Steely Dan’s official announcement confirmed Beard’s death but did not provide a medical cause. Separately, the Los Angeles Times and WRTI reported that a representative said he died March 2 in a New York City hospital after complications due to a sudden illness. The reports did not establish a more specific diagnosis.
Beard’s years with Steely Dan
Beard joined Steely Dan as a touring keyboardist in 2008. WRTI reported that his final performance with the band was in Phoenix on January 20, 2024. His work with Steely Dan was one part of a broader career in jazz and contemporary music.
A career across jazz and other styles
Born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, in 1960, Beard moved to New York in 1985 to pursue music, according to The Guardian. He worked with artists including Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin, and Wayne Shorter, and took part in performances with the Metropole Orkest, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
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- Easy Piano
- Pages: 162
- Instrumentation: Piano/Keyboard
Composer, arranger and producer
Beard also composed, arranged, produced, and recorded music. The Guardian reported that he published more than 100 compositions, which appeared on recordings and in books including The New Real Book. That reference means his compositions were included in the book; it does not mean he authored it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Tributes from colleagues
Steely Dan described Beard as “our friend and colleague.” Jazz drummer Peter Erskine, quoted by The Guardian, remembered him as “the glue and such a great presence on so many projects,” adding that he would miss Beard’s wit and musical incisiveness.
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- Piano Solo
- Pages: 96
- Instrumentation: Piano/Keyboard
Rank #4
- Used Book in Good Condition
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- Piano Solo
- Pages: 98
- Instrumentation: Piano/Keyboard
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