Shortly after leaving school to pursue a career in songwriting, Keith Reid, who died on March 23, 2023, at the age of 76, founded Procol Harum with late bandmate Gary Brooker —who also died at the same age in 2022.
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[RELATED: Procol Harum’s”A Whiter Shade of Pale’ Co-Writer Keith Reid Dies at 76]
In 1967, the duo wrote the band’s biggest hit, “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” along with bandmate Matthew Fisher. The song—pulled from a phrase Reid had previously overheard at a party—peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained in the No. 1 spot on the U.K. charts for six weeks.
Working together, with Reid writing lyrics and Brooker playing piano and composing, the duo also wrote the band’s 1967 song “Homburg” and “Conquistador” in 1972—which both hit the Top 40 in the U.S.—along with Procol Harum’s “Grand Hotel,” “Shine on Brightly,” and “A Salty Dog,” among many others before they disbanded in 1977.
[RELATED: Behind the Song: Procol Harum, “A Whiter Shade Of Pale”]
By the mid-’80s, Reid relocated to New York City to start a management company and continued writing for other artists, while Brooker also collaborated as a musician and vocalist for George Harrison, Kate Bush, and King Crimson’s Ian MacDonald, in addition to co-writing Eric Clapton‘s 1981 song “Catch Me If You Can.”
Throughout his career, Reid wrote songs outside of the Procol Harum catalog for everyone from Brooker, The Jeff Healey Band, and Peter Frampton, among others
Here are five songs Reid wrote for other artists.
1. “Time Will Tell,” Michel Polnareff (1966)
Written by Keith Reid and Michel Polnareff
Love Me, Please Love Me, the debut album by French singer and songwriter Michel Polnareff, featured two songs co-written with Reid: the Americana-leaning “You’ll Be on My Mind” and the more uptempo “Time Will Tell.” Upon its release, Love Me, Please Love Me hit the top of the charts in France.
2. “No More Fear of Flying,” Gary Brooker (1979)
Written by Keith Reid and Gary Brooker
Reid helped his Procol Haram bandmate Gary Brooker with his debut solo album, No More Fear of Flying, by contributing two tracks. Just like their Procol Harum days, the duo co-penned “Fat Cats” and the title track “No More Fear of Flying.” Reid also co-wrote five more tracks on Brooker’s third solo album, Echoes in the Night, released in 1985.
3. “Breaking All the Rules,” Peter Frampton (1981)
Written by Keith Reid and Peter Frampton
For his seventh album, Breaking All the Rules, Peter Frampton approached it with a more live-in-the-studio sound. The album gained attention for its anthemic title track, which was co-written with Reid. Prior to Breaking All the Rules, Frampton also released the song on the album Rise Up, which was released solely in Brazil to promote his tour there in 1980.
4. “You’re the Voice,” John Farnham (1986)
Written by Keith Reid, Chris Thompson, Andy Qunta, Maggie Ryder
When Australian pop singer John Farnham brought on Reid to co-write a song, he had a major hit on his hands. Released in 1986, off his 12th album, Whispering Jack, “You’re the Voice” went to No. 1 along with the album. Whispering Jack spent 25 weeks at No. 1 in Australia and won the Aria Award for Album of the Year in 1987.
5. “River of No Return,” The Jeff Healey Band (1988)
Written by Keith Reid, Jon Tiven, Sally Tiven
The late Jeff Healey released his debut in 1988 along with the help of some friends like John Hiatt and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, who co-wrote their respective tracks. Reid also co-wrote “River of No Return” for The Jeff Healey Band album.
In 2000, Healey released his fifth and last album, Get Me Some, with the band, and his final solo effort, It’s Tight Like That, in 2006, just two years before losing his battle with cancer at the age of 41.
Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images
