Procol Harum’s Gary Brooker dies
completemusicupdate.comProcol 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.
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