Procol Harum frontman Gary Brooker has died aged 76, his band has confirmed. The singer, pianist and composer had been receiving treatment for cancer before dying peacefully at home on Saturday.
Brooker led the band for more than five decades and during that time he helped write and was lead vocals on their 13 albums. In 1977, A Whiter Shade Of Pale was named joint winner alongside Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody as Best British Pop Single 1952–1977 at the Brit Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
Brooker also collaborated with many great artists including writing and singing for Eric Clapton’s band and with Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. He also rubbed shoulders with the Beatles as he toured with Ringo’s All-Starrs, and contributed to solo projects for Paul McCartney and for George Harrison, who guested on one of Gary’s four solo albums.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana...