Brooker founded The Paramounts in 1962 with his guitarist friend Robin Trower. The band gained respect within the burgeoning 1960s British R&B scene, which yielded The Beatles, The Animals, The Spencer Davis Group, The Rolling Stones, and many others. The Rolling Stones, in particular, were Paramounts fans, giving them guest billing on several memorable shows in the early 1960s.
In 1966, Brooker founded Procol Harum with his friend Keith Reid. "A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the worldwide hit that Procol Harum is best known for, but Brooker's melancholic vocals and emotive, eclectic piano playing were a key part of Procol's musical mix for the entire course of the band's career. In the early years Brooker, Hammond organist Matthew Fisher, and Trower were the guiding musical forces behind the band, but after disparities in style became too much and Fisher and Trower left, Brooker was the clear leader until the band broke up in 1977. Brooker started a solo career and released the album No More Fear of Flying in 1979.
Lead Me To The Water
This album features some spectacular names – aside from Mr Brooker he has gusts like Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Phil Collins Tim Renwick & Mel Collins; you are looking at the cream of the British music aristocracy of the mid-eighties.Gary Brooker himself was a founder member of Procul Harum – the voice of ‘A Whiter Shade Of Pale’ – and having played with some of the greats he was recognised by his fellow musicians as a master. But when this was released in 1982 it didn’t do half the business it should have due to huis association with ‘that bloody song’! music-news