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Robert Allen Palmer was an English singer and composer whose career spanned four decades. He was born on January 19, 1949, in Batley, Yorkshire. He is renowned for his deep voice, impeccable style, and ability to adroitly meld a variety of musical genres, including blues, jazz, rock, pop, reggae, and soul. Although he experimented with a variety of musical genres throughout the course of his career, Palmer is arguably most remembered for his classic single, “Addicted to Love,” which came to represent the decade’s excesses and glitz.
Early Life
Numerous circumstances contributed to Robert Palmer’s entry into the music industry. He was born in Batley, Yorkshire, but due to his father’s job in British naval intelligence, the family relocated to Malta when he was only a few months old. He first heard blues, soul, and jazz music there thanks to American Forces Radio, which was broadcast there. He carried these musical inspirations with him when he moved back to the UK at the age of 12.
Palmer moved to Scarborough, Yorkshire, when he was a teenager, where he joined his first band, the Mandrakes, while still a student at Scarborough High School for Boys. His brief foray into the world of painting at Scarborough School of Painting & Design, however, was cut short by a run-in with the authorities over a marijuana joint he was found to have.
Career
Palmer’s breakthrough in the music industry came in 1969 when he replaced singer Jess Roden in the band the Alan Bown Set. His distinct voice was featured on the band’s single “Gypsy Girl,” and he went on to re-record the vocals for the album “The Alan Bown!” Palmer’s unique talent propelled him from the northern club scene in England to becoming an “elegant and sophisticated” artist who could master a variety of musical styles.
Vinegar Joe, an Island Records-signed soul/rock group, was founded in 1970 by Palmer, Elkie Brooks, and Pete Gage. Vinegar Joe (1972), Rock ‘n’ Roll Gypsies (1972), and Six Star General (1973) were the trio’s three studio albums. Palmer’s captivating stage presence and Brooks’ distinctive vocals were largely responsible for Vinegar Joe’s popularity.
In 1974, Palmer embarked on a solo career, signing with Island Records. His debut album, “Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley,” was recorded in New Orleans and heavily influenced by the music of Little Feat and the funk fusion of the Meters. While the album was not a major success in the UK, it made a mark in the United States.
Midway through the 1970s, Palmer moved to New York City, where he later worked with musicians like Little Feat, James Jamerson, and Toots and the Maytals to develop his sound. His blend of reggae, rock, and soul was on albums like “Pressure Drop” (1975), “Double Fun” (1978), and “Secrets” (1979).
โPalmer was a founding member of the Duran Duran-affiliated ensemble The Power Station in the middle of the 1980s. Palmer’s reputation as a versatile musician who could bridge genre borders was further cemented by the band’s self-titled album, which included singles like “Some Like It Hot” and “Get It On (Bang a Gong).”
What was Robert Palmer’s Cause of Death?
On September 26, 2003, Robert Palmer passed away from a heart attack in a Paris hotel room at the age of 54.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Palmer
https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/27/arts/robert-palmer-54-singer-with-image-of-a-pop-romeo.html
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