one year ago
Allen Matt McDaniel
Since I first heard their music at 13 or 14- and ESP. those ethereal, Soaring.....almost Heavenly vocals, Procol's music took hold of me, and shaped my young soul in ways that, to This Day- always seemed to go far Beyond just the teenage pleasure of listening to Great Music....there was a magic to it....a spirituality.....a connection to something Higher. There was a Quality to it that- to this DAY...I cannot fully comprehend- but I KNEW it was Important in My Life.....and to who i would Become. To Me it became quite Inspirational and I always felt....a beneficial influence in my Life, so filled with Temptations at every turn. It gave me a Strength...and a Foundation of sorts. It was that presence that held me....and made me look within. And try to be a Better human being. I loved Procol, loved Him, loved that voice that became my church of sorts. Meeting him...and them... at some quite memorable locations and moments- are some of the Deepest and wonderful remembrances of my young Life. So to Him, to his Family which he seemed Quite close to....to the bandmates, so much talent and love there...and to Mr. Reid, who contributed so Much to that music, my Thanks. Some of that (music) came I'm sure from a reverance of the sea and sea-faring Life so prevalent in the Music, which also found a fast footing inside of Me. That Majestic musical storytelling, it just DID SOMETHING to me. He could explain it Better. But when I first met him, on a balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean (in Asbury Park, of all places- yet it seemed other-worldly) ...and saw that Piercing, raptor-like glint in his Eye....well, it was like I was being judged from 'On High'. I will never forget it, or some of the scant words we shared. ''Brooker', he told me, when I asked 'which one are You'! it was the 1st of many, MANY happy times and a Lifetime of Respect and Love someone we were Blessed to have shared air with for his brief sojourn.
And that is how I felt about him at Times. That he was setting a bar for me, of righteousness and humility, and even devotion to my Maker. And secretly, to Myself....thast he was possibly 'Not of this Earth'.
So YES, the Captain did cry, and we sailors are indeed weeping Mr. Brooker, but the Joy you inspired in us...in humanity....is intact, as is the Astounding musical Legacy you bestowed upon us with such Grace. We Love and Thank you for that legacy. And for being such a perfectly British example of a kind, generous and frankly Beautiful......human Being. Your true Family is actually quite Huge, as you may now Know! We ALL were moved by you in ways I cannot to this Day fully understand. But Thank you, Commander. Sail On, Shine On, Rock On. And my condolences to your loving family and friends, of which you sure seemed to have MANY! God Bless Gary Brooker. Rest in Passion, and give that ole' Heavenly Choir a helping hand, would you? I should think they are thrilled to Finally get to sing with You, after hearing your angelic voice from above, for so long! Cheers mate. I will miss you terribly. -Al in NJ
£10.00
