Best known for penning the lyrics to “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” Keith Reid was a founding member of the English rock band Procol Harum and its sole lyricist through 2003. Reid’s position was an unusual one: he did not play or perform with them on stage or in the studio. Rather, he was an observer during recording sessions and performances, writing all of Procol Harum’s song lyrics with the exception of the 2017 album, Novum. Reid also wrote for other musicians, including John Farnham’s 1986 hit, “You’re the Voice.”
- Died: March 23, 2023 (Who else died on March 23?)
- Details of death: Died at a London hospital of colon cancer at the age of 76.
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Keith Reid’s legacy
Reid was born in London in 1946, not long after his father’s experience in the Holocaust. He had a strong interest in music from a young age, prompting him to leave school at 15 to pursue songwriting. Reid cited Bob Dylan as a major early influence. Chris Blackwell of Island Records connected him with music industry figure Guy Stevens, who in turn introduced him to Gary Brooker (1945–2022). The pair started writing music together in 1966 as Procol Harum. By 1967, the Bach-inspired “A Whiter Shade of Pale” was a major hit, topping the UK singles charts, selling millions worldwide, and launching the band into stardom.
Reid continued to write lyrics for Procol Harum through their first disbandment in 1977, his dark imagery driven in part by his family connection to the Holocaust. After the band split, he continued to write for other artists. He moved to Manhattan in 1986 to run his own management firm, Full House. Procol Harum came calling again after they reunited in 1991, and Reid ended up writing the lyrics for their comeback album, The Prodigal Stranger. He would do so again for The Well’s on Fire in 2003. Procol Harum’s final album, 2017’s Novum, is their only record not driven by Reid’s lyrics. Reid became the band’s only remaining link to its early days after Booker’s death in February 2022.
Tributes to Keith Reid
Full Obituary: The Washington Post
