Procol Harum founder, songwriter, pianist and lead vocalist Gary Brooker has died

[Tom Rinaldo]

The news is from yesterday, and it has already been posted elsewhere on DU (in the Latest Breaking News Forum and in the Music Appreciation Group) but I couldn't find it mentioned anywhere in the General Discussion Forum and I think it deserves a GD thread. My apologies if this is a duplicate.

Like millions of others, I was totally captivated the very first instant that I heard "A Whiter Shade of Pale", but I continued to love Procol Harum's music over subsequent years and albums. Gary died of cancer. The BBC wrote this story upon his passing:

"Procol Harum singer Gary Brooker dies at 76"
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60485697

His music meant a lot to me.

RIP Gary

[themaguffin]

1. An underappreciated band and a very unique, classic single

[bif]

2. I saw him a couple times!

Such a great talent. I grew up on their music! Ah, the late sixties and early seventies! What a great time for music!

[Picaro]

3. Saw them perform at the Virginia Beach Dome

‘71 or ‘72.

A very talented group of musicians. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” was too long for radio, but mesmerizing in concert.

RIP, Gary Brooker.

[highplainsdem]

4. Yes, it does deserve a GD thread, and I'm glad you posted this. I posted the

thread in MA after seeing the one in LBN.

I know exactly what you mean about being totally captivated as soon as you heard "A Whiter Shade of Pale."

I typed up producer Tony Visconti's reaction to hearing it (as possibly the first American to hear it) in my MA post because it was apparently a huge factor in his decision to take a job in England working for Procol Harum's producer, a decision that led to his working with David Bowie and T.Rex (Marc Bolan) just months later -- and it's hard to imagine their careers without his influence -- so that song had a great impact there, too. Procol Harum's producer played the demo of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" for Visconti, and he was in England a few weeks later, before the single was released.

https://democraticunderground.com/103470529

He might have taken the job anyway, but I can't imagine anything else Denny Cordell could have played for him that would have impressed him as much. Tony said it literally changed his life. (And he did work with Procol Harum later, too.)

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. I read your post and really appreciate you taking the effort to transcribe Visconti's reaction

He put into words an experience that many (later) shared, and your post fills in a fascinating piece of Rock history. In a way it is a shame that Procol Harum is so totally identified with "A Whiter Shade of Pale" since there are many great pieces in the larger body of their work. Then again, if you are going to be identified with one song and one song only, it's hard to get any better than that one. But Procol Harum was not a one hit wonder, and they shouldn't be thought of as one. Their first three albums in particular are lasting gems.

[highplainsdem]

11. I agree. Btw, Tony was assistant producer on their second album, Shine On Brightly, and

since Denny Cordell was busy working with Joe Cocker, Tony oversaw the recording of side 2. I'll get that page or so of his book typed up for you later.

[Hav]

5. Damn

[Shermann]

7. He still had the pipes there! nt

[bigtree]

8. one of my favorite takes

[SaintLouisBlues]

9. The Alan Parsons Project - Limelight

[malaise]

10. One of the most talked about songs of my generation

I know every word and still haven’t sorted out the meaning.
What a classic. Thanks Gary!

[edhopper]

12. I saw him twice

in the couple of years before COVID.
Still a great performer in great voice.

[CaptainTruth]

13. Damn...