Procol Harum Lead Singer Gary Brooker Dies Aged 76

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The lead singer of Procol Harum Gary Brooker, has died at the age of 76.

The musician who had been battling cancer, died peacefully at his home over the weekend. The news was confirmed via a statement posted on the Procol Harum website.

The statement also called Brooker “a brightly shining, irreplaceable light in the music industry”. They also said that he“exhibited and developed a highly individual talent”.

“Gary’s voice and piano were the single defining constant of Procol’s 50-year international concert career. Without any stage antics or other gimmicks he was invariably the most watchable musician in the show”. 

The band also praised Gary for his charisma which was “not just confined to the stage”.

“He lit up any room he entered, and his kindness to a multilingual family of fans was legendary”, they added. “He was notable for his individuality, integrity, and occasionally stubborn eccentricity. His mordant wit, and appetite for the ridiculous, made him a priceless raconteur”. 

“He was above all a devoted and loyal husband to Franky, whom he met in 1965 and married in 1968″. 

“A Whiter Shade Of Pale”

The first single release by Procol Harum was released in 1967.

“A Whiter Shade Of Pale” is mainly regarded as defining the “summer of love”.

The track also hit number one in the UK Charts two weeks after its release. The song also sold 10 million copies, dominating the US and European markets.

So many people have paid tributes to the pianist, composer and lyricist Brooker.

“God bless Gary Brooker peace and love to the family”, Ringo Starr tweeted.

The Official Charts also paid tribute to the musician, “Gary Brooker MBE, Procol Harum frontman and co-writer of the group’s 1967 hit Whiter Shade of Pale, has sadly died aged 76. Our thoughts are with his fans, family and friends at this time”. 

Other tributes include the following.

Tributes were also paid to another music icon Mark Lanegan who passed away aged 57. More on this here.