Who wrote it

A Whiter Shade of Pale

Credited to Brooker & Reid — Matthew Fisher ruled a co-author in 2009

For decades Procol Harum’s 1967 hit was credited to Gary Brooker (music) and Keith Reid (lyrics). Then the band’s original organist, Matthew Fisher, sued for a share of the authorship of its famous organ melody — and, after a four-year case, the UK’s highest court agreed.

The credit

Who wrote it

Credited to
Gary Brooker (music), Keith Reid (lyrics)
Also ruled co-author
Matthew Fisher (organ melody), 2009
Recorded by
Procol Harum
Released
1967

Definitive version Procol Harum’s 1967 recording — a UK No. 1 and one of the best-selling singles of the era.

What the courts decided

Matthew Fisher, Procol Harum’s organist, launched legal action in 2005, claiming he composed the song’s Bach-influenced organ melody. Brooker and Reid contested it, saying the song was written before Fisher joined.

In December 2006 the High Court ruled Fisher was a co-author of the music and awarded him a share of future royalties. The Court of Appeal agreed he was a co-author but held he had waited too long to claim, and awarded nothing.

In July 2009 the House of Lords — one of its final rulings before becoming the UK Supreme Court — restored Fisher’s status as co-author, entitling him to a share of royalties from then on. His authorship of the organ line is now legally established; the original Brooker–Reid credit stands alongside it.

A Whiter Shade of Pale — authorship dispute
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Context

Why authorship was genuinely unclear

This is not a case of the public crediting the wrong person — it is one where the writers themselves disagreed, and the answer had to be settled in court. Both sides had a real claim: Brooker and Reid wrote the song’s structure and words; Fisher shaped the organ melody that much of the record’s identity rests on.

We report the outcome rather than take a side: the courts found Fisher a co-author of the music, while leaving the original credit to Brooker and Reid in place. It stands as one of the few famous songs whose authorship carries a documented legal ruling.

One of the few hit songs whose authorship was decided by a nation's highest court.

Credited writer — music

Gary Brooker

1945–2022 · Procol Harum singer and pianist

Procol Harum’s lead singer and pianist, credited with the music of ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ alongside lyricist Keith Reid.

Credited writer — lyrics

Keith Reid

1946–2023 · Procol Harum lyricist

Procol Harum’s non-performing lyricist, credited with the words of ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’.

Co-author — established by the courts, 2009

Matthew Fisher

b. 1946 · Procol Harum organist

Procol Harum’s original organist, whose claim to have composed the song’s organ melody was upheld by the House of Lords in 2009, making him a legally recognised co-author.

The recording

Procol Harum

English rock band · formed 1967

The band whose 1967 recording of ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ became a defining hit of the era.