Procol Harum Diary

'After achieving a certain degree of success at local youth clubs and dances, covering established rock & roll hits, Brooker took over the vocalist spot from the departed Scott, and the group continued working after its members graduated - by 1962, they were doing formidable (by British standards) covers of American R&B, and got a residency at the Shades Club in Southend.' (Bruce Eder All Music Guide)

The Paramounts Gary Brooker (pianist/singer) Robin Trower (guitarist) BJ Wilson (drummer) Diz Derrick (bassist)'...Gary Brooker decided to develop his career as a songwriter. This led Brooker into a partnership with lyricist Keith Reid (b. Oct. 19, 1945), whom he met through a mutual acquaintance, R&B impresario Guy Stevens. By the spring of 1967, they had a considerable body of songs prepared and began looking for a band to play them. An advertisement in Melody Maker led to the formation of a band initially called the Pinewoods, with Brooker as pianist/singer, Matthew Fisher (b. Mar. 7, 1946, Croydon, Surrey) on organ, Ray Royer (b. Oct. 8, 1945) on guitar, Dave Knights (b. June 28, 1945, London) on bass, and Bobby Harrison (b. June 28, 1943, London) on drums.' (Bruce Eder All Music Guide)

'Their first recording, produced by Denny Cordell, was of a piece of surreal Reid poetry called 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale', which Brooker set to music loosely derived from Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Air on a G String' from the Suite No. 3 in D Major.' (Bruce Eder All Music Guide)

In early May of 1967, the group performed 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' at the Speakeasy Club in London, while Cordell arranged for a release of the single on English Decca (London Records in America), on the company's Deram label.' (Bruce Eder All Music Guide) June 4 Procol Harum make their concert debut at London's Saville Theatre on the same bill as Jimi Hendrix.

'... the prototypal Procol Harum made its concert debut in London opening for Jimi Hendrix at the Saville Theater on June 4, 1967. Four days later, 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' reached the top of the British charts for the first of a six-week run in the top spot, making Procol Harum only the sixth recording act in the history of British popular music to reach the number one spot on its first release (not even the Beatles did that). The following month, the record reached number five on the American charts, with sales in the United States rising to over a million copies (and six million copies worldwide).' (Bruce Eder All Music Guide) Epstein presents the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Denny Laine and his Electric String Band (in their first ever appearance), Procol Harum (full concert début), and the Chiffons, in two houses in a Saville Theatre Sunday presentation.

'The same month that the record peaked in the United States, Royer and Harrison were sacked and replaced by Brooker's former Paramounts band-mates Robin Trower and BJ Wilson on guitar and drums, respectively.' (Bruce Eder All Music Guide) Procol Harum (July, 1967)

'A new contract for the group was secured with A&M Records in America (they remained on Regal Zonophone in England), and by November, a second album, Shine on Brightly, highlighted by an 18-minute epic entitled 'In Held 'Twas I,' was finished and in the stores, and rose to number 24 in America but failed to chart in England.' (Bruce Eder All Music Guide)

December 28 Procol were playing at the Miami Pop Festival in front of 100,000 people on a bill which included Canned Heat, Chuck Berry, Fleetwood Mac and The Turtles.

March David Knights and Matthew Fisher exited the line-up shortly after finishing work on the group's new album, A Salty Dog, preferring management and production to the performing side of the music business. Knights's departure opened the way for bassist Chris Copping to join Procol Harum. (Bruce Eder All Music Guide)April 9 Procol Harum plays at The Palm Springs Pop Festival, California, on a bill including Ike and Tina Turner and John Mayall.

May 15 'A farewell concert at New York's Academy of Music on May 15, 1977. Only five months later, the band was back together for a one-off performance of 'A Whiter Shade of Pale,' which had taken on a life of its own separate from the group - the song was named joint winner (along with 'Bohemian Rhapsody') of the Best British Pop Single 1952-1977, at the Britannia Awards to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee, and the band performed it live at the awards ceremony.' (Bruce Eder All Music Guide)

August Brooker reformed Procol Harum and The Prodigal Stranger was recorded and released. Read Bruce Eder here