Gary Brooker
Procol Harum founder has died
Gary Brooker was 76 years old.
© imago images/ZUMA Wire
British rock musician Gary Brooker has died. The singer of the band Procol Harum was 76 years old.
Gary Brooker (1945-2022) is dead. The British rock musician was known as the lead singer of the band Procol Harum. As the band writes on their website, Brooker died on February 19. His bandmates announce his death with “the deepest regret”. The musician was “a bright, irreplaceable light in the music industry”. He was being treated for cancer and died “peacefully at home”.
Procol Harum became world famous with “A Whiter Shade of Pale”.
Gary Brooker was born in London in 1945. In the 1960s he was a co-founder of the band The Paramounts. In 1967 he founded the rock group Procol Harum and became their singer and pianist. The song “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, which shaped the hippie era, became particularly well known.
After Procol Harum disbanded in the 1970s, Brooker sought a solo career. The rock musician worked with Phil Collins (71), George Harrison (1943-2001), Eric Clapton (76) and Paul McCartney (79), among others. In 1991 Procol Harum got back together, until the end Brooker was on stage with his fellow musicians. In 2003 he was awarded the folder of the British Empire for his services.