Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer (January 19, 1949 - September 26, 2003) -- born Alan Robert Palmer in Yorkshire, England -- was a British singer.
The son of a British serviceman stationed in Malta, Palmer moved with his family to London in 1969. Influenced as a child to blues, soul, and jazz music, Robert Palmer joined his first band, Mandrake Paddle Steamer, at the age of 18. His first major break came with the departure of singer Jess Roden from the band, The Alan Brown Set, in which Palmer was invited to sing on the single "Gypsy Girl". In 1970, Palmer joined jazz-rock fusion band Dada, which featured singer Elkie Brooks. The band lasted a year in which Brooks and Palmer formed the critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful group, Vinegar Joe. Signed to the Island Records label, they released three albums.
On the basis of his youthful looks, strong stage presence, and soulful voice, Island signed Palmer to a solo deal. Having earlier been approached by Little Feat to replace Lowell George, due to contractual reasons Palmer declined. His first solo album Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley in 1974 was heavily influenced by the music of Little Feat and the funk fusion of The Meters. His first single was a cover of Little Feat's "Sailin' Shoes". Although moderately successful in the UK, both the album and single reached the Top 100 in the US.
Subsequently relocating from London to New York with his wife, Palmer produced Pressure Drop in 1976. An album infused with his interests in reggae and rock music, it was noted for its cover art of a nude girl on a balcony rather than any commercially successful songs. He toured with Little Feat to promote that album however with the failure of the follow-up Some People Can Do What They Like, Palmer decided to move to the Bahamas. In 1978, he released Double Fun a collection of Carribean influenced rock, which reached the Top 50 on the US Billboard charts and scored a Top 20 single with the Andy Fraser penned "Every Kinda People".
Palmer's next album was an artistic departure, concentrating on a rockier direction. Secrets produced his second Top 20 single with "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)". The 1980s saw Palmer reach the peak of his commercial success. The album Clues generated hits on both sides of the Atlantic, first with the single "Johnny and Mary" and then "Looking for Clues". Catchy videos matching the synth-pop stylings of New Wave gave him exposure to a new younger audience. The success was further repeated with the 1982 EP release of Some Guys Have All the Luck.
In 1985, Palmer joined drummer Tony Thompson and Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor and bass player John Taylor, in The Power Station. Their eponymous album reached the Top 20 in the UK and the US and spawned two hit singles with "Some Like It Hot" and the T-Rex cover "Get It On". The video "Some Like It Hot" featured model Caroline Cossey.
Returning to a solo career in 1986, Palmer recorded Riptide, an album which featured a Number 1 single and raunchy video of "Addicted to Love", with Palmer surrounded by a bevy of blonde female musicians. In 1987, Palmer moved to Lugano, Switzerland and set up his own recording studio. Producing Heavy Nova in 1988, Palmer again returned to experimenting, this time with bossa nova rhythm, heavy rock, and balladeering. He repeated his previous success with "Addicted to Love" with the video of "Simply Irresistible", again Palmer with a troupe of female musicians. The ballad "She Makes My Day" also proved to be a hit. In 1989, he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for his song "Simply Irresistible".
Palmer collaborated with UB40 for his next album, Don't Explain. Released in 1990, it featured the Bob Dylan penned Top 10 single "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight". Throughout the 1990s, Palmer ventured further into diverse material. The 1992 album Ridin' High was a tribute to the Tin Pan Alley era and the 1999 release, Rhythm and Blues contained a mixture of Little Feat influenced songs, rock, and pop.
He was known for his soulful voice and the eclectic mix of musical styles on his albums, combining soul, jazz, rock, blues, and even yodeling.
Palmer, who made his home in Switzerland, died in Paris of a heart attack at the age of 54.
Discography
Album Name, Year of Release
- Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley (1974)
- Pressure Drop (1975)
- Some People Can Do What They Like (1976)
- Double Fun (1978)
- Secrets (1979)
- Clues (1980)
- Maybe It's Live (1980) (live)
- Pride (1983)
- Riptide (1985)
- Sweet Lies (1987) (single)
- Heavy Nova (1988)
- Addictions Volume I (1989) (compilation)
- Don't Explain (1990)
- Addictions Volume II (1992) (compilation)
- Ridin' High (1992)
- Honey (1994)
- Very Best Of Robert Palmer (1997) (compilation)
- Woke Up Laughing (1998) (compilation)
- Rhythm & Blues (1999)
- Best Of Both Worlds: The Robert Palmer Anthology (1974-2001) (2002) (compilation)
- TV Dinners (2003)
- Drive (2003)
Albums by the group Power Station:
- Power Station (1985)
- Living in Fear (1997)