Billy Joel paid tribute to Procol Harum’s Gary Brooker, who died Feb. 19 on the age of 76, with a rendition of the band’s basic “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” a music that Joel has continuously praised (and coated) all through his profession.
Taking the stage Saturday evening at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, Joel delivered a transferring rendition of “Shade of Pale” following a efficiency of his personal “Solely the Good Die Younger”; earlier within the week, Joel paid tribute to Brooker on social media.
Sorry to listen to in regards to the passing of Gary Brooker.
Relaxation in Peace.
– Billy Joel[Pictured: Gary Brooker, founder and lead singer of Procol Harum] pic.twitter.com/C2VbXjviHA
— Billy Joel (@billyjoel) February 22, 2022
Joel had beforehand carried out the 1967 single dwell on a handful of events, together with a snippet throughout a Cincinnati live performance in 2021 and a solo take throughout a City Corridor Q&A and live performance with Howard Stern in 2014:
Brooker, Procol Harum’s frontman for 55 years, died Feb. 19 at his residence following a bout with most cancers. “[Brooker] lit up any room he entered, and his kindness to a multilingual household of followers was legendary,” the band mentioned in an announcement Tuesday. “He was notable for his individuality, integrity, and sometimes cussed eccentricity. His mordant wit, and urge for food for the ridiculous, made him a priceless raconteur (and his surreal inter-song banter made an enchanting distinction with the gravitas of Procol Harum’s performances).”