Gary Brooker, the lead singer of English band Procol Harum best known for singing the ballad “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” died peacefully at his home on Sunday. He was 76. 

A statement on the rock band’s website described Brooker as “a brightly shining, irreplaceable light in the music industry.”

“Gary exhibited and developed a highly individual talent. His first single with Procol Harum, 1967’s A Whiter Shade of Pale, is widely regarded as defining the ‘summer of love’, yet it could scarcely have been more different from the characteristic records of that era ….

“Gary’s voice and piano were the single defining constant of Procol’s 50-year international concert career. Without any stage antics or other gimmicks he was invariably the most watchable musician in the show,” it added. 

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Born May 29, 1945, in Hackney, the singer led the band for 55 years. In 2003, he was recognized for his later humanitarian efforts with an MBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) from the Queen of England.

He is survived by Françoise “Franky” Riedo, his wife of 53 years.

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Following his death, several of his friends and colleagues took to social media to pay tributes. 

“R. I. P. Gary Brooker who has skipped the light fandango. Procol Harum’s A Whiter Shade Of Pale wrong footed the pop music loving public with its dreamy, powerful eccentricity & it took the Beatles with All You Need Is Love to dislodge them from No. 1 in the 1967 summer of love,” author Martin Knight tweeted.

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“The salty dog has passed. My heart goes out to his wondrous wife, Franky. RIP Gary Brooker. I was in love with Procol Harum from the moment I heard them. Gary was a genius and along with miraculous lyricist, Keith Reid, their work is heavenly. Their friendship was a dream to me,” Richard Lewis tweeted.