Keith Reid | |
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 Reid in 1999 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Keith Stuart Brian Reid (1946-10-19)19 October 1946 Welwyn Garden City,Hertfordshire, England |
| Died | 23 March 2023(2023-03-23) (aged 76) London, England |
| Genres | Psychedelic rock,progressive rock,Art rock |
| Occupations | Lyricist,songwriter |
| Years active | 1966–2023 |
Keith Stuart Brian Reid (19 October 1946 – 23 March 2023)[1][2] was an English lyricist and songwriter.
He was best known for being the songwriter who wrote the lyrics of every original song released byProcol Harum, with the exception of the songs on their 2017 album,Novum. He co-founded the band withGary Brooker. Reid was a non-performing member; he did not play any instrument or record with Procol Harum. After the band's break-up in 1977, he began composing songs. Most notably, he co-wrote "You're the Voice", aUK top-10 hit for Australian singerJohn Farnham.
Reid was born on 19 October 1946.[3] He grew up in London and wasJewish, the son of aHolocaust survivor.[4] He left school at an early age to pursue a songwriting career.
He met Gary Brooker, lead singer with Procol Harum, with whom he co-wrote most of the band's songs (some music was written by organistMatthew Fisher and by guitaristRobin Trower), in 1966. They began collaborating, and their composition "A Whiter Shade of Pale", Procol Harum's first single, was released in 1967. It reached the top of theUK Singles Chart and sold over six million copies worldwide. Keith Reid was an official member of Procol Harum and attended all their recording sessions and most of their concert performances, despite having no performance role in the band.[5] Reid continued to write lyrics for the band until they disbanded in 1977.[3] Reid has said that the dark tone of his lyric writing derives from his familial experience of the Holocaust.[4]
He reunited with Brooker and Procol Harum for the albumsThe Prodigal Stranger (1991) andThe Well's on Fire (2003).
Reid also wrote the lyrics for two songs by the French singerMichel Polnareff in 1966 ("You'll Be On My Mind" and "Time Will Tell"), and was co-writer for the John Farnham hit "You're the Voice" (1986).
Reid moved to New York and founded a management company in 1986.
In August 2008, a new album,The Common Thread, was issued under The Keith Reid Project banner. Reid wrote the lyrics for the songs, which were performed by a variety of musicians, includingSouthside Johnny,Chris Thompson,John Waite andMichael Saxell. The album was produced by Keith Reid and Matt Noble.
A new album from the Keith Reid Project,In My Head, was released in December 2018.[6]
Reid died fromcolon cancer on 23 March 2023, at the age of 76.[7][8]
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