British rock band Procol Harum will forever be known for the hit single “A
Whiter Shade of Pale”, the mammoth symphonic rock hit which fused Matthew
Fisher's playing of a Bach melody with Gary Brooker's moody, soulful vocals and
lyricist Keith Reid's darkly mysterious lyrics. Procol Harum originally emerged
from Southend band The Paramounts, which featured Brooker and guitarist Robin
Trower - who had a small hit in 1964 with “Poison Ivy” - but split in 1966 when
Brooker started collaborating with organist Fisher and songwriter Reid. The
group created a stir with their debut singl...