THE  PARAMOUNTS  -  WHITER SHADES  OF  R'N'B  2000.

THE PARAMOUNTS

B.J. Wilson, Chris Copping, Gary Brooker, Robin Trower
The origins of the Paramounts go back to a band contest 
at the Palace Hotel Dancehall in Southend. The organizer thought to get the best members of the competing groups  together in a single band. He ended up managing a lineup 
of Gary Brooker on piano, then 14 years old, Robin Trower on guitar, Chris Copping on bass, Bob Scott as  singer, and Mick Brownlee on drums. It turned out that, except for Scott, who was into Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson, they were all huge R&B fans, which was reflected 
in their early repertory that was heavy on the songs of Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, and Fats Domino. Ray Charles was another favorite of the bandmembers. Scott didn't last long with the group and when he failed to turn up for a gig one day, Brooker found himself pressed into service  as a singer, which remained a quartet from then on.
in late 1966, the Paramounts broke up. Derrick left the music business, while Trower and Wilson joined other bands.
Brooker, however, began writing songs with lyricist Keith Reid. In 1967, they arranged to cut a song that they'd  written, called "A Whiter Shade of Pale," which was  recorded by a studio band credited as Procol Harum. 



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