RIP Gary Brooker

[BMKal]

One of the all time greats of music, Gary Brooker, frontman of Procol Harum passed away yesterday.

This is not the original version of their best known track - but in my opinion, is certainly one of the best.

Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale, live in Denmark 2006 - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St6jyEFe5WM)

If anyone follows Jimmy Barnes - he and his family also released a great tribute version of this song yesterday.

[TasD90]

Most everyone on the Forum will have grown up with "Whiter Shade of Pale" as a soundtrack to their childhood or early adulthood. On of the true rock anthems. Gary sang and played piano in one of the few bands to have both piano and organ, The Band being another example. Gary Brooker had a stunning voice much in the same mould as Steve Winwood and Steve Marriott. He wrote the music for all the Procol Harum songs and Keith Reid supplied all the lyrics. Keith was not a musician but he was always listed as being a member of the band such was his importance in the creation of the songs. He also wrote some of the lyrics for John Farnham's "You're the Voice". The pair was like Elton John and Bernie Taupin, each very little without the other.

Instantly recognisable, Gary Brooker and Procol Harum share a huge spot in the history of rock from the days when pop/rock music was actually worth listening to !

Peter.

p.s. the name Procol Harum came from the name of one of their friend's cats!

[ramblingboy42]

I'm with you there BMKal, nothing like a Hammond with the leslie waling away......