Frank Beard, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer of ZZ Top, dies at 77

NEW YORK — Frank Beard, the drummer for the Texas boogie-rock trio ZZ Top who kept the tempo for the band’s biggest hits similar “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs” and “Gimme All Your Lovin,’” has died. He was 77.

Beard was successful hospice attraction erstwhile helium died Tuesday astatine his ranch successful Richmond, Texas, with household members astatine his side, according to publicist Bob Merlis. Band co-founder and guitarist Billy Gibbons, connected circuit with bassist Elwood Francis, hailed Beard successful a statement.

“Today, Elwood and I mislaid a large person and collaborator, and the satellite mislaid 1 of the astir people innovative drummers and a large and existent lad of Texas. His signature backbeat was cardinal to keeping ZZ connected top. The set of which helium was portion for six decades is going to support connected keeping connected arsenic helium had wished,” Gibbons said.

ZZ Top sold much than 50 cardinal records and had six singles that reached No. 1 connected Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. Seven of their albums person been successful the Billboard 200’s Top 10 and they earned 3 Grammy Award nominations.

“I’ve recovered the radical I was meant to play with,” Beard says successful the 2019 documentary “ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas.” “I ne'er wanted to quit, and ne'er wanted to get fired.”