Steely Dan keyboardist Jim Beard dead at 63

Steely Dan keyboardist Jim Beard has died, a representative for the musician confirmed to Fox News Digital. He was 63 years old. 

Beard died after complications from an illness in a New York hospital on Saturday "surrounded by loved ones," his rep said. 

He had been a member of Steely Dan since 2008, and last performed with the band on January 20th in Phoenix on the Eagles "Long Goodbye" tour. 

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Steely Dan keyboardist Jim Beard. (Scoop Marketing)

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Along with being a keyboardist, Beard was also a pianist, composer, producer and arranger. 

Steely Dan performing in 2009.  (Ron Pownall/Getty Images)

Beard was born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, on August 26, 1960, and became well known for his solo jazz music as well as his work with legends like Wayne Shorter and John McLaughlin.

He has also recorded with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, the Brecker Brothers, Dianne Reeves, Meshell Ndegeocello, Toninho Horta and Steve Vai.

He had more than 100 compositions published in his lifetime, which have been used in movies, TV and radio call signals – including with Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Blue Note, Verve, Columbia, NBC, ABC, and CBS/Sony – and he has played piano on several movie scores. 

The Eagles at Madison Square Garden on September 07, 2023 in New York City.  (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Eagles)

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Beard has also performed with the Metropole Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and at venues like Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and Royal Festival Hall in London. 

He recorded six solo albums, beginning with "Song of the Sun" in 1990. His last album was 2013's "Show of Hands."

Beard was nominated for seven Grammy Awards during his career and won in 2007 as a featured performer on "Some Skunk Funk" with the Brecker Brothers. 

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Beard is survived by his son and daughter, Victor and Caitlin Beard, and by his mother, Sarah, sister Nancy Canale, and brother, Bill Beard.