English singer-songwriter, pianist and founder, and lead singer of the rock band Procol Harum, Gary Brooker has died at the age of 76.
Procol Harum shared the news via Facebook and wrote that “Gary Brooker – 29 May 1945 – 19 February 2022, We’re very sad to announce the death of Gary Brooker. The single defining constant of the band’s fifty-year career, Gary’s voice, and piano playing were legendary and he leaves behind a legacy that will last for generations. He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.”
He died peacefully at home over the weekend according to a statement on Procol Harum’s website.
The statement described Brooker as “a brightly shining, irreplaceable light in the music industry”, adding that he “exhibited and developed a highly individual talent.
“His first single with Procol Harum, 1967’s ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’, is widely regarded as defining the ‘summer of love, yet it could scarcely have been more different from the characteristic records of that era.
“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.”
Procol Harum’s Lead Singer, Gary Brooker Died At 76
