Keith Reid, who co-wrote the enduring classic A Whiter Shade Of Pale by Procol Harum, has passed away at the age of 76.
Reid, who was born in Hertfordshire, never performed with Procol Harum, but he was essential to the band’s success, having written all of their lyrics until 2017.
The 1986 soft rock anthem You’re The Voice by John Farnham was one of his other successes. The death of Reid was verified on the official Procol Harum Facebook page.
“His lyrics were one-of-a-kind and helped define the band’s music,” they said in a statement.
“His inventive, surreal, and multilayered lyrics were a delight for Procol fans, and their intentional complexity was a potent addition to the Procol Harum discography.
Our prayers are with his family and friends.
According to a statement on the Procol Harum website, the composer has been undergoing cancer treatment for several years.
“His family would like to thank numerous well-wishers for their very kind messages,” the statement continued, adding that a private funeral would be conducted in the near future.
The illuminated fandango trip
Chris Blackwell, head of Island Records, initially introduced Reid to producer Guy Stevens, who suggested he compose music with Gary Brooker, keyboardist for The Paramount at the time.
A Whiter Shade of Pale, one of the first songs they wrote together, was presumably inspired by a remark Stevens made about his wife’s pallid demeanor.
It was an unusual tune, from its surreal lyrics (“We tripped the light fandango”) to its eerie organ line and melancholy arrangement, which was loosely based on Bach’s Air for the G String.
Blackwell recalled in his autobiography that Island Records rejected it because the initial demo was “dirgelike,” but it went on to become one of the most successful singles of all time, selling more than 10 million copies worldwide.
At the first Brit Awards in 1977, it was named the joint winner of the “best British pop single 1952-1977” alongside Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. In 2009, UK radio stations deemed it the most-played song of the last 75 years.
Fans have scrutinized the lyrics for decades in search of deeper meaning, but Reid says they may never discover the answer they seek.
“It’s impressionistic, so people never really get to the root of it,” he told the Huffington Post in 2009. “Like a painting, there are always new levels of interpretation.”
Reid was never designated an official member of Procol Harum because he did not play any instruments, but he continued to use his distinctive turns of phrase on songs such as A Salty Dog, Homburg, and Conquistador.
Annie Lennox, Willie Nelson, and Heart, among others, have recorded Reid’s compositions, and his contribution to the success of “You’re The Voice” was essential.
“Make a racket and be explicit”
Chris Thompson, the main singer of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, co-wrote this song with Andy Qunta and Maggie Ryder, two writers from his publishing company.
Thompson, inspired by the anti-nuclear demonstrations of the 1980s, wanted to write an anthem about the capacity of individuals to effect positive change. However, he struggled with the lyrics and sought Reid’s assistance.
Reid told Songfacts,
“Chris called me and said, ‘I’ve got something but I don’t know what to do with it lyrically.'”
“It seems like it ought to be mildly political, but I’m not sure. We sat down, he played me the song, and I got the notion for the title, You’re The Voice.
“In a sense, it’s an anti-war anthem, but it was more of a make your voice heard’ message. Awaken to your own power.”
Even though all four composers were British, the song has been labeled the “unofficial anthem of Australia” due to its success in multiple countries.
Quinta wrote on Facebook that collaborating with Reid was “a dream come true.”
“Keith was a wonderful person and a tremendous talent who will be greatly missed,” he said. Sincere condolences to Mrs. Pinkey and her family.
Reid co-wrote the Jeff Healy Band song River of No Return with Jon Tiven, who also paid tribute.
When it came to songwriting, he was a one-of-a-kind genius. As a friend, I couldn’t have asked for a greater one. When it came to collaborating, he brought me a lyric that became one of my biggest (if not my biggest) songs.
He continued, quoting the title of Procol Harum’s second album, “Shine On Brightly, genius.”
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