Frank Beard, the original drummer for the Texan rock trio ZZ Top, died on Tuesday at the age of 77 at his ranch in Richmond, Texas.
He had spent more than half a century as a core member of the group, providing the rhythm for some of rock music's most recognizable tracks.
Billy Gibbons, the band's singer and guitarist, announced the news on social media. Gibbons wrote that he and bassist Elwood Francis had lost a great friend and collaborator, while the world had lost one of its most naturally innovative drummers and a true son of Texas.
Gibbons also highlighted Beard's characteristic backbeat, describing the rhythmic accent placed on the offbeats of a measure as essential to keeping ZZ Top at the top of the music industry.
Francis joined the group as bassist in 2021 following the death of Dusty Hill, the third original member of the band. Francis was not part of the original lineup that established the trio's signature sound.
Formation and signature style
ZZ Top was formed in Houston in 1969 by Gibbons, Hill, and Beard. Houston, the largest city in Texas, served as the home base where the three musicians combined traditional Texan boogie blues rock with a distinct visual identity.
Boogie blues rock is a style of rock music rooted in the blues, characterized by heavy electric guitar riffs, repetitive basslines, and steady dance rhythms.
The trio became globally recognizable for their stage image, which featured long beards, dark sunglasses, and cowboy hats.
Beard's surname means beard in English, but he was ironically the only member of the trio who did not sport a long beard. He wore a moustache instead, a contrast that the band frequently highlighted with humor.
Across more than five decades with ZZ Top, Beard's drumming formed the rhythmic foundation for some of Texan rock's biggest hits. His work was featured on tracks such as La Grange, Tush, Sharp Dressed Man, and Legs.
Record sales and awards
With Beard on drums, ZZ Top achieved massive commercial success, selling more than 50 million records worldwide over the course of their career.
The group placed six singles at number one on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, an American music trade publication chart that ranks the most played songs on main rock radio stations across the United States.
The band's enduring influence was formally recognized when ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The museum and institution, located in Cleveland, Ohio, honors artists who have made significant impacts on the history of rock music.
Beard passed away at his property in Richmond, a suburban city in Fort Bend County located southwest of Houston.
