[8] In college, he performed professionally with Slide Hampton and Red Rodney and was in a bar band whose members included Jon Herington, Shawn Pelton, Kenny Aronoff, Robert Hurst, and Chris Botti.

[8] Beard moved to New York in 1985 and became the pianist of John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu,[9] started working relationships with Bill Evans and Mike Stern and had recorded with Dave Liebman.

[10][11] He also began producing many successful recordings for artists such as Mike Stern, Bob Berg, Evans and Eliane Elias.

[13] Many of Beard's compositions have been recorded by top jazz artists, such as "The Wait," by John McLaughlin; "Riddle Me This," by Bob Berg; "In the Hat," by Victor Bailey; "The Gentleman and Hizcaine," by Michael Brecker; and "I'll Miss You," by Bill Evans.

[14] Beard's albums include Song of the Sun (1990), which features Wayne Shorter and Michael Brecker; Lost at the Carnival (1995); Truly (1997); Advocate (2000); Revolutions (2008); Show of Hands (2013); and Chunks and Chairknobs (2019).