Robert Leslie Harrison (22 June 1939 – 7 January 2022) was an English drummer and singer who was best known as an early member of the progressive rock band
Procol Harum
Procol Harum () were an English rock band formed in Southend-on-Sea, Essex in 1967. Their best-known recording is the 1967 hit single " A Whiter Shade of Pale", one of the few singles to have sold over 10 million copies. Although noted for ...
.
Life and career
Harrison was born in
East Ham, London, on 22 June 1939. He was an early member of
Procol Harum
Procol Harum () were an English rock band formed in Southend-on-Sea, Essex in 1967. Their best-known recording is the 1967 hit single " A Whiter Shade of Pale", one of the few singles to have sold over 10 million copies. Although noted for ...
, but shortly after their 1967
hit single
A hit song, also known as a hit record, hit single or simply a hit, is a recorded song or instrumental that becomes broadly popular or well-known. Although ''hit song'' means any widely played or big-selling song, the specific term ''hit record' ...
"
A Whiter Shade of Pale" was released, he and guitarist
Ray Royer
Ray may refer to:
Fish
* Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea
* Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin
Science and mathematics
* Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point
* Ray (gr ...
left the group to form the band
Freedom
Freedom is understood as either having the ability to act or change without constraint or to possess the power and resources to fulfill one's purposes unhindered. Freedom is often associated with liberty and autonomy in the sense of "giving one ...
.
He also worked with several other members of Procol Harum on other projects; he joined a band called
SNAFU which contained Procol's future
organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational ...
Pete Solley
Peter Solley (born 19 October 1948, London) is an English musician and record producer. He has recorded with Eric Clapton, Al Stewart and Whitesnake as well as producing records for Ted Nugent, Oingo Boingo, Motörhead, The Romantics, Jo Jo Zep ...
, and also on
Matthew Fisher's solo album ''Journey's End''. His 1977 self-titled project album ''Nobody's Business'' was released only in Japan.
He was later in a band called 'Journey', where he played Christian-oriented rock around the
Leigh-on-Sea area of
Essex
Essex () is a Ceremonial counties of England, county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the Riv ...
. He died on 7 January 2022, at the age of 82.
References
External links
Bobby Harrison Official*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Bobby
1939 births
2022 deaths
English rock drummers
People from East Ham
Procol Harum members