Longtime ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has died, the band announced on Tuesday afternoon. He was 77 years old.

Beard passed away at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, alongside his family in hospice care.

“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. His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top,” said lead singer and guitarist Billy Gibbons.

While he wasn’t a founding member of the band, he went on to perform alongside Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill for 56 years. He joined the band when they had already made their debut. Beard is actually responsible for bringing Hill into the group.

The trio went on to record iconic southern rock hits like “La Grange,” “Tush” and many more. They released 15 studio albums and sold about 15 million records.

Hill passed away in 2021 at 72 years old. He was replaced by the band’s longtime guitar tech, Elwood Francis.

While on tour last year, Beard took a temporary medical leave of absence in March and was replaced by longtime drum tech John Douglas. He then returned in May. His passing comes nearly two weeks after the band canceled their show at the Hollywood Bowl after citing “unforeseen personnel matters.”

To honor Beard’s memory, ZZ Top has canceled its upcoming shows in Sandy City, Utah and Colorado Springs, Colorado. They’ll resume their shows on Aug. 21 in Eagle Pass, Texas and on Aug. 22 and 23 at the ACL Live at The Moody Theater, which they said was one of Beard’s “favorite venues and in a city that had been something of a second home for him.”

The band’s tour wraps up on Nov. 25 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In 2004, Beard and ZZ Top were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He’s survived by his wife, Debbie, their twin sons and his daughter from a previous marriage.