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It added, “His mordant wit, and appetite for the ridiculous, made him a priceless raconteur (and his surreal inter-song banter made a fascinating contrast with the gravitas of Procol Harum’s performances).” Brooker, the band’s statement said, “was notable for his individuality, integrity, and occasionally stubborn eccentricity.” Brooker to continue making albums until 2017. It recorded and toured until 1977, and it regrouped sporadically in lineups led by Mr. He composed nearly all of Procol Harum’s music Keith Reid, who did not perform with the band, provided lyrics that invoked literary and historical allusions and spun tall tales, sometimes at the same time.Īlthough “A Whiter Shade of Pale” was both its first and biggest hit, and the band steadfastly avoided showmanship, Procol Harum sustained a five-decade career. Brooker led Procol Harum in songs that mixed pomp and whimsy, orchestral grandeur and rock drive. With his grainy, weathered-sounding voice and a piano style steeped in gospel, classical music, blues and the British music hall, Mr.

Brooker had been receiving treatment for cancer, the band said in a statement confirming his death. Gary Brooker, the singer and pianist of the early progressive rock group Procol Harum, who co-wrote songs including “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” the improbable but overpowering hit during the 1967 Summer of Love, died on Saturday at his home in Surrey, England.