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Artist News
Procol Harum’s Gary Brooker dies
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 23 February 2022
Procol Harum frontman Gary Brooker has died, aged 76, while receiving treatment for cancer.
A statement on the band’s website reads: “With the deepest regret we must announce the death on 19 Feb 2022 of Gary Brooker MBE, singer, pianist and composer of Procol Harum, and a brightly-shining, irreplaceable light in the music industry. Aged 76, he had been receiving treatment for cancer, but died peacefully at home”.
Born in London in 1945, Brooker moved with his family to Southend-On-Sea in Essex while he was still an infant. His father Harry was also a professional musician, but died when his son was eleven years old.
Brooker formed his first band in 1962, The Paramounts, gaining some recognition and releasing a number of singles before splitting in 1966. He then formed Procol Harum with lyricist Keith Reid, pulling together a band to perform their songs in 1967, the initial line-up being keyboard player Matthew Fisher, guitarist Ray Royer and bassist David Knights.
The band recorded their debut single, ‘A Whiter Shade Of Pale’, later that year, which became a huge hit. Their live debut followed – with Bobby Harrison joining on drums – supporting Jimi Hendrix.
Although their next single, ‘Homburg’, was also a hit, ‘A Whiter Shade Of Pale’ was so big and became such a classic that they were never able to match it. The band split in 1977, but reformed again in the early 1990s, continuing to perform live and record with various line-ups. Their last album, ‘Novum’, was released in 2017.
In 2009, Matthew Fisher – who originally left the band in 1969, but returned in 1991 until 2004 – won a lawsuit over the authorship of ‘A Whiter Shade Of Pale’, following various appeals. Fisher argued that he wrote the song’s distinct keyboard line and should be entitled to a cut of its royalties. In the end, he was awarded 40% of the composer’s share of future publishing royalties.
The final appeal in that case was the last dispute heard by the UK’s House Of Lords Appellate Committee of law lords before it was replaced by the Supreme Court.
Brooker also released three solo albums, as well as recording and performing with other artists too, including George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Kate Bush, The Hollies, Eric Clapton and The Alan Parsons Project.
In a statement, his current Procol Harum bandmates said: “Gary’s charisma was by no means confined to the stage. He lit up any room he entered, and his kindness to a multilingual family of fans was legendary”.
“He was notable for his individuality, integrity, and occasionally stubborn eccentricity. His mordant wit, and appetite for the ridiculous, made him a priceless raconteur – and his surreal inter-song banter made a fascinating contrast with the gravitas of Procol Harum’s performances”.
“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”, they concluded. “Our thoughts must be with her, their families and friends at this extremely sad time”.
