We were sad to hear of the passing of the great Gary Brooker, lead singer and keyboardist with Procol Harum. Aged 76, he had been receiving treatment for cancer, but died peacefully at home. Famous for his 1967 hit single with that band, A Whiter Shade of Pale, he played on Kate’s live performance of The Wedding List in July 1982 along with Midge Ure, Phil Collins and Pete Townsend. In 1993, Gary graced her 7th studio album, The Red Shoes, on the tracks And So Is Love, Constellation of the Heart and (perhaps most memorably) You’re the One with his trademark shimmering Hammond organ. In 2005 Gary provided backing vocals on Aerial‘s Sunset, vocals and Hammond organ on Somewhere In Between and Hammond organ on Nocturn. We send our condolences out to Gary’s family, friends and fans. Here’s a lovely tribute Gary paid to Kate in Uncut Magazine in 2010:
Read an obituary at the Procol Harum website here.
Thomas Jones
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Ron
Kate must have had the utmost respect for Gary’s musical acumen and skills on the organ!