Procol Harum organist wins legal fight over 'Whiter Shade of Pale'

By Robert Verkaik, Law Editor

The organist who helped compose the classic"A Whiter Shade of Pale" has won his battle for a share of the song's earnings.

Matthew Fisher, who played the Hammond organ on the Procol Harum hit which sold 10 million copies, claimed that his contribution had been ignored by the two other band members. Yesterday a High Court judge said that he was entitled to 40 per cent of the musical copyright from the singer Gary Brooker.

Mr Justice Blackburne's ruling was criticised by both Mr Brooker and the lyricist, Keith Reid. Mr Brooker said songwriters "now have to view all musicians with suspicion as potential claimants to a share in their copyright".

He added: "If Matthew Fisher's name ends up on my song, then mine can come off! I have to respect and acknowledge the people I write songs with. After all this time, this case should never have got to court - Johann Sebastian Bach deserves the credit for his inspiration to all musicians."

Mr Fisher, who now works as a computer programmer, had been campaigning for a writing credit since 1973.