Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Keith Reid, R.I.P.


Lyricist and songwriter Keith Reid, best known for co-writing Procol Harum's 1967 worldwide hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale", passed away on March 23rd of cancer at the age of 76. Reid's passing comes just over a year after the death of Procol Harum composer and singer Gary Brooker. 

Although Reid never played an instrument and seldom appeared on stage. he was nevertheless a full member of the group and wrote lyrics on 11 of Procol Harum's 12 albums recorded between 1967 and 2003. The son of Holocaust survivors, Reid's dark lyrics were influenced by his parents' fight for survival. 

Reid's most notable non-Procol Harum collaboration were lyrics he wrote for John Farnham's 1987 hit, "You're The Voice."

I leave you with Reid being interviewed in 1973 shortly before Procol Harum returned to the studio to record their album Exotic Birds and Fruit. R.I.P.

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