Alan Cartwright, Procol Harum Bassist, Passed Away At 75

RIP

Former Procol Harum bass player Alan Cartwright has passed away on March 4 at the age of 75. In 2020, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Procol Harum’s official Facebook page corroborated this heartbreaking news.

Born on October 10, 1945 in London, he appeared on the Freddie Mack Show together along with B.J. Wilson and Roger Warwick. He joined Procol Harum in 1971 and played with them for five years until 1976. He was featured on Procol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and he also toured with them. He recorded until the band’s 1975 album Procol’s Ninth.

Procol Harum founding member and lead singer Gary Brooker wrote, “Looking back, he was always a very solid, musical, and reliable bass player, and a good bloke who gave of his best both in the studio and on the extensive tours Procol did when he was with us.”

“I often think of those very rich years when Alan, Mick Grabham, BJ and Copping were my constant companions, sharing music, humour, endless voyages, and cocktails,” he continued. “only five years but, to me, the most memorable Procol Harum era of all time thanks to the wonderful positive presence of Cartwright.”

After retiring from the music industry, Cartwright worked at Enfield’s Bush Hill Park Bowls & Tennis Club.