Procol Harum frontman Gary Brooker dies aged 76

Gary Brooker has died on the age of 76 (Image: Redferns/Getty)

Gary Brooker, the frontman of Procol Harum, has died on the age of 76.

The band, recognized for his or her 1967 hit A Whiter Shade of Pale, confirmed the information in an announcement on their web site, describing him as a ‘brightly-shining, irreplaceable mild within the music business.’

The assertion confirmed that the pianist, composer and lyricist had been receiving therapy for most cancers and died peacefully at dwelling.

He's survived by his spouse Franky, who he married in 1968.

It added: ‘From his earliest onstage duets together with his musician father, by means of his youthful recording profession with Southend’s The Paramounts, Gary exhibited and developed a highly-individual expertise. His first single with Procol Harum, 1967’s A Whiter Shade of Pale, is extensively considered defining ‘The Summer time of Love’, but it might scarcely have been extra completely different from the attribute data of that period.’

The band went on so as to add that Brooker’s ‘affect far exceeds his output,’ itemizing The Who and Queen as amongst those that had been impressed by the late star.

He was receiving most cancers therapy earlier than his demise (Image: Redferns)

The band have paid tribute to their late good friend (Image: Redferns)

In addition they remembered his charitable work, and added: ‘Gary’s charisma was certainly not confined to the stage.

‘He lit up any room he entered, and his kindness to a multilingual household of followers was legendary. 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 a captivating distinction with the gravitas of Procol Harum’s performances).

‘However for all his different pursuits and abilities – prize-winning angler, pub-owner, lyricist, painter, inventor – he was above all a faithful and dependable husband to Franky, whom he met in 1965 and married in 1968. Our ideas should be together with her, their households and pals at this extraordinarily unhappy time.’

Earlier than his profession with Procol Harum, Brooker based the band The Paramounts in 1962, which turned well-known within the burgeoning Sixties British R&B scene.

In 1966, he based Procol Harum together with his good friend Keith Reid. The next 12 months, they launched their worldwide hit A Whiter Shade of Pale.

The band broke up in 1977 however Brooker’s profession continued, as he carried on as a solo artist.

He labored with musicians together with Eric Clapton, Sir Ringo Starr, and Invoice Wyman and, in 1996, appeared within the Alan Parker movie adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita.

In 2003, he was awarded an OBE in recognition of his charitable work.