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Gary Brooker
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Gary Brooker was born in 1945 in Hackney, in East London. His father was a professional musician who played steel guitar. As a child Gary learned piano, cornet and trombone. The family moved to Southend-on-Sea, where his father died when Gary was eleven. He began a degree in zoology and botany but gave it up to become a musician. In 1962 he formed The Paramounts with the guitarist Robin Trower, an R&B band that even counted The Rolling Stones among its fans.
Music and breakthrough
In 1966 Brooker started the band Procol Harum with the lyricist Keith Reid. A year later A Whiter Shade of Pale became a worldwide hit, followed by Homburg. In the early years Brooker, the organist Matthew Fisher and Trower together shaped the music. After Fisher and Trower left, Brooker was clearly the leader. He later began a solo career with No More Fear of Flying (1979), played in Eric Clapton's band and sang Limelight by The Alan Parsons Project. He also played on albums by George Harrison, including All Things Must Pass.
Influence
The sound of Procol Harum revolved around Brooker's melancholy voice and his sensitive, versatile piano playing, alongside the Hammond organ. For a long time only Brooker was credited as the composer of A Whiter Shade of Pale. In 2005 Matthew Fisher went to court, because he felt he had co-written the music. He won in 2006 and was awarded forty per cent of the composer's share. Brooker continued to tour with Procol Harum until 2019 and died in 2022.
Listening
Discography
Studio albums
In School of Rock
The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.
- Mixtape 9: The InstrumentNL Reader