According to a statement from Procol Harum, Brooker was described as “a brightly-shining, irreplaceable light in the music industry…From his earliest onstage duets with his musician father, through his youthful recording career with Southend’s The Paramounts, Gary exhibited and developed a highly-individual talent,” the tribute went on to say. “His first single with Procol Harum, 1967’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” is widely regarded as defining ‘The Summer of Love’, yet it could scarcely have been more different from the characteristic records of that era.” Born in East London on May 29, 1945. By the time he was 5 he had learned to play the piano. By 1962, he founded his first band, The Paramounts. Then in 1966, Brooker and his pal Keith Reid created Procol Harum. Their hit song “A Whiter Shade of Pale” sold over 10 million copies and has been featured in loads of TV and movie soundtracks. Brooker had also been honored with an MBE from the Order of the British Empire, according to the statement from Procol Harum. This award, Britain’s third-highest ranking, honors someone for making a positive impact in their line of work. “The salty dog has passed. My heart goes out to his wondrous wife, Franky. RIP Gary Brooker,” wrote Richard Lewis on Twitter. “I was in love with Procol Harum from the moment I heard them. Gary was a genius and along with miraculous lyricist, Keith Reid, their work is heavenly. Their friendship was a dream to me.” According to the band’s website there will be a private funeral sooner and a memorial service later. “But for all his other interests and skills—prize-winning angler, pub-owner, lyricist, painter, inventor—he was above all a devoted and loyal husband to Franky, whom he met in 1965 and married in 1968,” said the statement on the band’s official website. “Our thoughts must be with her, their families and friends at this extremely sad time.” The best-known song from Procol Harem is without a doubt, “A Whiter Shade Of Pale.” But they recorded 10 albums and charted other hits. Here are some top songs from Procol Harum: “Fool’s Gold” “Told On You” “Homburg” “Quite Rightly So” “A Rum Tale” “Nothing But The Truth” “Simple Sister” “Conquistador” “Grand Hotel” “Pandora’s Box” “An Old English Dream” “A Salty Dog” “Whiskey Train”
Listen to “A Whiter Shade of Pale”
What does Procol Harem mean?
Procol Harum, roughly translated from Latin, means ”beyond these things.” Next, Why We Grieve Celebrities—and Why That’s Good for Our Health
