Jim Beard, longtime keyboardist for Steely Dan, dies at 63
Keyboardist Jim Beard, who spent more than a decade of his life playing for rock group Steely Dan, has died. The band, formed by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, confirmed Beard’s death in a brief statement shared on its website on Wednesday. “It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of our friend and colleague,” the “Reelin’ in the Years” and “Do It Again” band wrote. (Becker died in 2017.) A representative for Beard said he died Saturday in a New York City hospital after complications due to a sudden illness, according to multiple reports. Beard, who reportedly was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his death, was 63. Beard, also a composer and producer, had collaborated with Steely Dan since the early aughts, bringing his music to releases including its 2003 album, “Everything Must Go.” His career also featured collaborations with “some of the greatest names in music,” including guitarist Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter and John McLaughlin, according to his website’s biography. Bandleader Dizzy Gillespie, jazz duo Brecker Brothers and singer Dianne Reeves also were among Beard’s collaborators. Beard’s passion