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Gary Brooker and Keith Reid are two of the most influential figures in the world of classical music. Both of them were born in the United Kingdom, and their passion for music began at a young age. Gary Brooker was born on May 29, 1945, in Hackney, London. He grew up in a musical family, and his father played the piano. Brooker started playing the piano at the age of seven and was soon performing in local bands. He attended Southend High School for Boys, where he met Robin Trower, who would later become the guitarist for Procol Harum. Keith Reid was born on October 19, 1946, in London. He grew up in a family of writers and artists and was exposed to literature and poetry from a young age. Reid attended St. Albans School, where he met Matthew Fisher, who would later become the keyboardist for Procol Harum. Brooker and Reid met in 1962 when they were both working as advertising copywriters. They discovered a shared love of music and began writing songs together. In 1967, they formed the band Procol Harum, which would go on to become one of the most successful and influential bands of the 1960s. Procol Harum's first single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale," was released in 1967 and became an instant hit. The song, which was written by Brooker and Reid, featured Brooker's haunting piano melody and Reid's enigmatic lyrics. It went on to become one of the most iconic songs of the 1960s and is still played on radio stations around the world today. Procol Harum's self-titled debut album was released later that year and featured a mix of psychedelic rock and classical influences. The album was a critical and commercial success and established Procol Harum as one of the most innovative and original bands of the era. Over the next few years, Procol Harum released a string of successful albums, including Shine On Brightly (1968), A Salty Dog (1969), and Home (1970). The band's music continued to evolve, incorporating elements of blues, jazz, and classical music. One of the highlights of Procol Harum's career was their performance at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970. The band played to a crowd of over 600,000 people and delivered a powerful and memorable performance. In 1971, Procol Harum released their most ambitious album yet, Broken Barricades. The album featured a more hard-rocking sound and included the hit single "Simple Sister." However, tensions within the band were beginning to mount, and Brooker and Reid decided to take a break from Procol Harum. During the 1970s, Brooker and Reid pursued solo projects and worked with other musicians. Brooker released several solo albums, including No More Fear of Flying (1979) and Lead Me to the Water (1982). Reid worked as a lyricist for other artists, including John Farnham and Manfred Mann's Earth Band. In 1991, Brooker and Reid reunited to record a new Procol Harum album, The Prodigal Stranger. The album featured a mix of new material and re-recorded versions of classic Procol Harum songs. It was well-received by fans and critics and marked a successful return for the band. Since then, Brooker and Reid have continued to work together on various projects. In 2017, they released a new Procol Harum album, Novum, which was praised for its inventive songwriting and musical arrangements. Throughout their careers, Brooker and Reid have been recognized for their contributions to the world of classical music.

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