STARS TO TAKE TO THE STAGE TO HONOUR GARY BROOKER
LEGENDS INCLUDING ROGER TAYLOR, ERIC CLAPTON, MIKE RUTHERFORD AND PAUL CARRACK TO PERFORM AT CHARITY GIG AT GUILDFORD G LIVE ON 4TH DECEMBER
A very special concert is being held to commemorate Gary Brooker MBE on Monday 4th December 2023 at G Live, Guildford. The celebration of the life of iconic vocalist and composer Gary Brooker, best known for his involvement with the legendary British band Procol Harum, will aid in raising funds for Gary’s preferred charities The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and Cure Parkinsons.
A host of well-known musicians will come together to celebrate Gary’s life and career, including ROGER TAYLOR, ERIC CLAPTON, MIKE RUTHERFORD, PAUL CARRACK, JOHN ILLSLEY, ANDY FAIRWEATHER-LOW and MIKE SANCHEZ. They will be joined by a house band made-up of some of the best session musicians in the business; Dave Bronze – bass, Henry Spinetti – drums, Graham Broad – drums, Paul Beavis – drums, Frank Mead- sax/harmonica, Nick Pentelow – sax, Nikki Lamborn – vocals, Catherine Feeney- Vocals, Olivia Keast – vocals, Geoff Dunn – Procol Harum drums, Geoff Whitehorn – Procol Harum guitar and Josh Phillips – Procol Harum keys.
Andy Locke, Venue Director at G Live said: “We are honoured to host this very special tribute to Gary Brooker MBE at G Live. Through his charity work, Gary was such a respected member of the Guildford community, and his invaluable contribution to the music industry is demonstrated by the calibre of artists who are joining us at G Live in celebration of his life.”
From his first single with Procol Harum, 1967’s A Whiter Shade of Pale, Brooker and the band went onto release thirteen albums that never veered from their unique and restlessly progressive path.
Gary’s voice and piano skills were the single defining constant of Procol’s fifty-year international concert career. While his roots were in the blues, his style was often thought of as classical, and he had a love for all kinds of musical styles and often incorporated surprising elements into the songs he composed – a Swiss locomotive siren was used as the opening hook for one of his most beloved tracks, 1969’s A Salty Dog.
Brooker’s work will be remembered outside of Procol Harum too as he has collaborated with some of the best in the business. He played, wrote and sang for Eric Clapton’s band and with Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, toured with Ringo’s All-Starr’s, and contributed to solo projects for Paul McCartney and George Harrison. He can also be heard singing in the movie Evita as he was personally invited to be a part of it.
The musician’s charity work was also notable and commendable, FOR WHICH HE WAS AWARDED THE MBE and he continually looked for ways to raise money for those in need. Funds were also raised via ‘No Stiletto Shoes’, a high-energy side-project band that delivered the music of his earliest influences. His last fundraiser was right before the first 2020 lockdown at London’s O2 Arena raised over a million pounds for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Gary Brooker passed away on the 19th of February 2022 – Gary Brooker RIP (procolharum.com)
Tickets for this show on Monday 4th December 2023 are priced at £100 + booking fees. Pre-sales start on Tuesday 26th September at 10:00am, with general on-sale on Thursday 28th September at 10:00am via glive.co.uk | 0343 310 0055
The show will start at 7:30pm prompt.
