Procol Harum were an English rock band formed in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in 1967 by singer and pianist Gary Brooker. Their debut single "A Whiter Shade of Pale" sold over 10 million copies worldwide, making it one of the few singles ever to reach that mark. Blending baroque organ lines with blues and progressive rock, the band became a key force in the development of symphonic rock. Brooker led the group through more than five decades and 12 studio albums until his death in February 2022.
Gary Brooker, founder and lead singer of Procol Harum, died on February 19, 2022 from cancer, 76 years old, and the band officially ceased with his passing.
The band announced Brooker's death with a statement in which he is described as "a brightly-shining, irreplaceable light in the music industry".
Former Procol Harum drummer Mark Brzezicki formed a new band in late 2022 under the name Ex Procol Harum to keep the band's musical legacy alive.
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 as one of six singles.
