ELO's Silver Cello Donated to Birmingham Conservatoire

On March 31st, former electric light orchestra members Melvin Gail, Bev Bevin, and Mick

Kaminsky got together at Birmingham City University to hand.

Over Gail's one-of-a-kind silver electric cello.

That instrument toured with ELO back in the 1970s, and now it's heading to the Royal Birmingham

Conservatoire.

The cello will live in the Richard Tandy production suite, which opened just last year.

That space already holds Tandy's instruments, studio gear, and his collection of gold

and platinum records from his ELO days.

Gail decided to donate it after seeing a tribute concert for Tandy, where the conservator

students blew him away.

He had the cello tucked away at home, and since electric cellos didn't exist back then,

the band built this custom one themselves.

The conservator's war principal called it a perfect symbol of ELO's blend of classical

and pop innovation.

It's inspiring students to get creative, building an archive that honors music legends

from Birmingham.

Tandy passed away this year at age 76, but his legacy lives on through a scholarship funded

by his wife, Sheila, and a campaign from ELO.

Founder Jeff Linn.

Moments like this keep the spirit of those pioneering sounds alive for the next generation.

Music news today, powered by AI bringing you what's trending in sound.

I'm Corey with The Story.