Frank Beard, the longtime drummer for the legendary rock band ZZ Top, has died at the age of 77.

The band announced Beard’s death on Tuesday. He died while receiving hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with members of his family by his side. A cause of death was not immediately released.

“Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers ​and a great and true son of Texas,” Gibbons said in ​a statement per Reuters. “His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top. The band of ‌which ⁠he was part for six decades is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished.”

Beard spent more than five decades behind the drums for ZZ Top, helping create the powerful blues-rock sound that made the Texas band famous around the world.

He played on some of ZZ Top’s biggest hits, including “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’.”

Beard was part of one of the longest-lasting lineups in rock music. He performed alongside guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill beginning in 1970. The three musicians remained together for more than 50 years.

That lineup came to an end when Hill died in 2021 at the age of 72. Elwood Francis later joined the band on bass.

Beard continued performing with ZZ Top, marking a remarkable 56-year career with the group before his death.

Early Life

Frank Lee Beard was born on June 11, 1949, in Frankston, Texas. He developed an interest in music at a young age and eventually became a drummer.

Before ZZ Top, Beard played with several Texas bands. His early groups included The Cellar Dwellers, The Hustlers, American Blues and The Warlocks. During this period, he also played alongside bassist Dusty Hill, beginning a musical partnership that would last for decades.

Beard eventually joined guitarist Billy Gibbons in ZZ Top. Hill soon became the group’s bassist, completing the classic lineup.

More Than 50 Years With ZZ Top

Gibbons, Hill and Beard began performing together in 1970. Their lineup would become one of the longest-lasting and most recognizable in rock history.

ZZ Top built its reputation by combining blues, hard rock and Southern rock. Beard’s drumming was an important part of that sound. While Gibbons’ guitar playing and Hill’s bass attracted plenty of attention, Beard provided the rhythm that helped hold the band’s music together.

ZZ Top released its debut album, ZZ Top’s First Album, in 1971. The group gained a larger following during the 1970s with albums including Tres Hombres and Fandango!

Songs such as “La Grange” and “Tush” helped establish the band as a major force in American rock music.

Becoming MTV Stars

ZZ Top reached another level of fame during the 1980s.

The band’s 1983 album Eliminator became a massive commercial success and introduced ZZ Top to a new generation of fans. It included some of the group’s best-known songs, including “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’.”

Their creative music videos also became extremely popular on MTV.

Beard stood out from his bandmates in an unusual way. Despite his last name being Beard, he was the member of ZZ Top who did not have the enormous beard that became part of the group’s famous image. Gibbons and Hill were instantly recognizable because of their long facial hair.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

After decades of recording and touring, ZZ Top received one of rock music’s highest honors when the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

The trio continued performing together for years afterward.

Their remarkable run changed in July 2021 when Dusty Hill died at age 72. Following Hill’s death, longtime guitar technician Elwood Francis took over bass duties, allowing ZZ Top to continue performing.

Beard remained an important part of the band and ultimately spent about 56 years with ZZ Top.

Away from the stage, Beard largely kept his personal life out of the spotlight compared with the band’s highly recognizable public image.

By the time of his death at 77, Beard had spent most of his adult life as the drummer for ZZ Top. His steady playing can be heard across decades of recordings that helped make the group one of the most successful and enduring American rock bands of its era.

Following Beard’s death, ZZ Top announced that it had canceled its Tuesday concert in Salt Lake City and Wednesday show in Colorado Springs. The band plans to return to the stage this weekend in Austin, Texas.