Gary Brooker was a co-founder and lead vocalist of the classic progressive rock band Procol Harum known for their song “Whiter Shade of Pale.”
- Died: Saturday, February 19, 2022. (Who else died on February 19?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 76 from cancer.
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Classic rock legend
Gary Brooker was a singer-songwriter and pianist who co-founded the classic progressive rock band Procol Harum. He was the lead singer for the British group whose voice can be heard on their iconic 1967 track “Whiter Shade of Pale.” He first started a band called The Paramounts with guitarist friend Robin Trower which had an R & B sound. After the Paramounts broke up, Brooker co-founded Procol Harum in 1966. During the 1967 “Summer of Love,” the band had an international hit with their song “Whiter Shade of Pale,” co-written by Brooker, which is a staple of classic rock radio. Procol Harum broke up in 1977 but Brooker later reformed the band and they continued to tour as recently as 2019.
Notable Quote
“I’ve always rejected the idea of labeling groups or types of music,” “I don’t think Procol has ever fit into a particular pigeonhole, as we call them here, you know, in the filing cabinet. You don’t really know what to put them under. They come under ‘P’ — ‘Progressive?’ ‘Psychedelic?’ — and I say, ‘They come under ‘P’ and ‘P’ is for ‘Procol’.” – He told Vintage Rock in 2019
Tributes to Gary Brooker
Full Obituary: Rolling Stone
