1946-2023
Keith Reid
1946-2023
Keith Reid
Keith Reid best known for his work with the English rock group Procol Harum. Reid wrote the lyrics to almost every one of the band's songs except for the songs up until 2017. Born October 19, 1946, Reid grew up in a Jewish family in London. At an early age, he left school to become a professional songwriter. Procol Harum started when Reid met Gary Brooker. Brooker was the lead singer for Procol Harum and co-wrote most of the songs with Reid.
A year after the duo met, in 1967, Procol Harum released its debut single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale." This track sold over six million copies worldwide. Reid was also the lyricist on other Procol Harum hits including their second single "Homburg", which reached no 6 in the UK, no 5 in Australia and no 34 in the USA, "Conquistador" and more. Although Reid was an official member of Procol Harum, he was not a performing member. Though he often attended recording sessions and most concerts performances. He hardly ever missed a show!
KeithReid
When Procol Harum disbanded in 1977, Reid felt lost. In 1986, he went to New York and started a management company called Full House. Here he composed songs for other artists. Among his hits during this time was John Farnham's 1986 soft rock anthem "You're The Voice". In 1991, the band reformed with a slightly new formation. The band toured for the first half of the 1990s, but after that, they were semi-inactive until the 2000s.
During the beginning of the 2000s, the band did several tours around Europe, the US, and Japan. In 2005, the band went back to a limited touring schedule. Later on, Reid released some music away from Procol Harum. He released two albums under "The Keith Reid Project" titled "The Common Thread" in 2008 and "In My Head" in 2018. These albums featured Reid's songwriting and the voices of Maya Saxell, John Waite, and more.
On March 23, 2023, Reid passed away from colon cancer at the age of 76 in a hospital in London. Though Reid never performed with Procol Harum he was vital to the band's success and responsible for their 1967 hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale", which is still prevalent and widely covered today. His songs and enigmatic lyrics will always be remembered.
