Gary Brooker, who sang ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale,’ dead at 76

A portrait of Gary Brooker of Procol Harum showing on a TV present in 1976
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Gary Brooker, who sang Procol Harum’s intoxicating ballad “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” has died at 76.

The musician, who co-wrote the band’s 1967 traditional which got here to outline the “Summer season of Love,” misplaced his battle with most cancers Saturday, in accordance with his surviving bandmates.

“He lit up any room he entered, and his kindness to a multilingual household of followers was legendary,” mentioned Procol Harum of their late singer in a press release on social media.

“He was notable for his individuality, integrity and infrequently cussed eccentricity. His mordant wit, and urge for food for the ridiculous, made him a priceless raconteur (and his surreal inter-song banter made an interesting distinction with the gravitas of Procol Harum’s performances),” the band added.

Gary Brooker sang Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” a music extensively thought to be defining the “Summer season of Love.”

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Brooker, born Might 29, 1945, in Hackney, was greatest recognized for main the band for 55 years, whereas additionally touring with rock legends corresponding to Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

In 2003, he was acknowledged for his later humanitarian efforts with an MBE (Most Wonderful Order of the British Empire) from the Queen of England.

Procol Harum recorded 13 albums with Brooker in the course of the group’s 55-year historical past.

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A lilting ode to a drunken lover set in opposition to the melody of an previous church organ, the enduring tune is remembered singularly in opposition to Procol Harum’s 13-album discography.

The group “by no means sought to duplicate it,” they continued, “preferring to forge a restlessly progressive path, dedicated to trying ahead, and making every file a ‘distinctive leisure.’ “

“Gary’s voice and piano had been the one defining fixed of Procol’s fifty-year worldwide live performance profession. With none stage antics or different gimmicks he was invariably probably the most watchable musician within the present (he performed a number of different devices within the studio).”

Brooker is survived by his spouse of 53 years, Françoise “Franky” Riedo.

Brooker additionally toured with fellow music legends, together with Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

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