Sad news yesterday: Gary Brooker, the singer, composer, and pianist of the English band Procol Harum, has died of cancer at the age of 76. This was a particularly poignant passing for me; I’ve been haunted by his masterpiece A Salty Dog since the first time I heard it, more than half a century ago, and even after all these years I still think it is perhaps the most beautiful song ever written.
You can read Mr. Brooker’s obituary, at the Procol Harum website, here.
2 Comments
Sad news this, MP.
For me, the single live song of theirs that stands out in every thrilling regard …and one that I have enjoyed a million+ times, is this single one:
December 27, 1971:
YT: Quite Rightly So
This is thirty-nine days after their mighty musical achievement with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
– Bill Turgeon
Malcolm, I wondered if Brooker’s passing would come to your attention. “A Salty Dog” has excellent arrangement to accompany the vocals. I had no idea Brooker’s resume was so extensive. Guess some people play large parts in other walks of life. I looked over the various band members and only one was familiar to me–Robin Trower.
I have always been partial to the song “Conquistador”. It seemed to get quite a bit of air play.