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{{short description|English musician (1949–2003)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2010}}
{{About|the English singer|other people named Robert Palmer|Robert Palmer (disambiguation){{!}}Robert Palmer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2010}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist {{Infobox musical artist
| name = Robert Palmer | name = Robert Palmer
| image = Robert_Palmer.jpg | image = Robert Palmer.jpg
<!-- NOTE: Do not replace Robert-Palmer-Sunset-Strip-(edit).jpg unless it is with a photo under a public domain or free license (meaning NOT fair use). Any fair use photos (i.e., 'promotional photos') violate the Fair Use Policy and will be deleted. See ] use criteria -->| alt = Palmer singing into a microphone onstage
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Robert Allen Palmer | caption = Palmer in 1986
| birth_name = Robert Allen Palmer
| alias =
| Born = {{birth date|1949|1|19|df=y}}<br />], ], England, United Kingdom | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1949|1|19}}
| birth_place = ], ], England
| Died= {{death date and age|2003|9|26|1949|1|19|df=y}}<br><small>Paris, France</small>
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2003|9|26|1949|1|19}}
| instrument = Vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, drums
| death_place = Paris, France
| genre = ], ], ]
| genre = {{hlist|]|]|]|]|]}}
| occupation = Singer-songwriter<br/>]<br/>Record producer
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|record producer}}<!--Please do not add to this list without first discussing your proposal on the talk page. -->
| years_active = 1969–2003
| years_active = 1964–2003
| label = ], ]
| spouse = {{marriage|Susan Eileen Thatcher|1971|1993|end=divorced}}
| associated_acts = ], ], ], ], ], ]
| label = {{hlist|]|]}}
| past_member_of = {{hlist|]|]}}
}} }}
'''Robert Allen Palmer''' (19 January 1949&nbsp;– 26 September 2003) was an English singer and songwriter. He was known for his powerful and soulful voice, his ] elegance, and his stylistic explorations, combining ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. His 1986 song "]" and its accompanying video came to "epitomise the glamour and excesses of the 1980s".<ref name="TelegraphObit" />


Having started in the music industry in the 1960s, including a spell with ], Palmer found success in the 1980s, both in his solo career and with ], scoring Top 10 hits in the United Kingdom and the United States.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |year=2006 |isbn=1-904994-10-5 |edition=19th |location=London |pages=415–416}}</ref><ref name="Rockopedia">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 1998| title= Guinness Rockopedia| edition= 1st| publisher= Guinness Publishing Ltd.| location= London| page= | isbn= 0-85112-072-5| url-access= registration| url= https://archive.org/details/guinnessrockoped0000unse/page/307}}</ref> Three of his hit singles, including "Addicted to Love", featured music videos directed by British fashion photographer ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Addicted to Love: fashion's favourite video for 30 years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2016/apr/04/addicted-to-love-fashions-favourite-video-for-30-years |access-date=22 March 2019 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>
'''Robert Allen Palmer''' (19 January 1949 – 26 September 2003), born in ], ], was a ]-winning ] singer-songwriter.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> He was known for his distinctive voice and the eclectic mix of musical styles on his albums, combining ], ], rock, pop, ] and ]. He found success both in his solo career and in the ] ], and had ] songs in both the US and the UK.


Palmer received a number of awards throughout his career, including two ]s for ] and an ]. He was also nominated for the ] for ] in 1987 and 1989.<ref name="BritAwards"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623102946/http://www.brits.co.uk/artist/robert-palmer |date=23 June 2014 }}. Brits.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2012</ref><ref>. Rock on the Net. Retrieved 14 April 2012</ref> He died from a heart attack aged 54.
His iconic music videos by ] for the ] "]" and "]", featured identically dressed dancing women with pale faces, dark eye makeup and bright red lipstick, which resembled the women in the art of ], an artist popular in the 1980s.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> Sharp-suited, his involvement in the ] commenced in the 1960s, covered five decades and included a spell with ].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref name="Rockopedia">{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 1998
| title= Guinness Rockopedia
| edition= 1st
| publisher= Guinness Publishing Ltd.
| location= London
| page= 307
| isbn= 0-85112-072-5}}</ref>


==1964–1973: Early bands== ==Career==
===1964–1973: Early bands===
Palmer was born in 1949 in ].<ref name="TelegraphObit">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1442580/Robert-Palmer.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1442580/Robert-Palmer.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Obituaries: Robert Palmer |newspaper=] |date=27 September 2003 |access-date=19 December 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> When he was only a few months old, he and his family moved to ],<ref name="BBC-obit">{{cite news| url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3143104.stm |title= Obituary: Robert Palmer |date= 26 September 2003 |website= BBC.co.uk| publisher= BBC| access-date= September 20, 2023}}</ref> where his father worked in British ].<ref name=TelegraphObit/><ref name="Independent">{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music-some-guys-have-all-the-luck-1081541.html|title=Music: Some guys have all the luck |website= Independent.co.uk|access-date=16 July 2018}}</ref> He was influenced as a child by ], ], and ] music played on ]<ref name="Independent"/> and by his parents' musical tastes.<ref name=TelegraphObit/> His family returned to the UK when he was 12.<ref name="Medium">{{Cite web |last=Marlowe |first=Gary |date=3 May 2021 |title=Simply Irresistible: The life and times of Robert Palmer |url=https://gmarlowe.medium.com/simply-irresistible-the-life-and-times-of-robert-palmer-fc4a24daa780 |access-date=5 October 2022 |website=Medium.com}}</ref>
Palmer's father was an ] naval intelligence officer stationed in Malta. Palmer moved with his family to ], ] in 1959. Influenced as a child by blues, soul and jazz music on ], Robert Palmer joined his first band, The Mandrakes, at the age of 15 while still at Scarborough Boys' High School. His first major break came with the departure of singer ] from the band ] in 1969, after which Palmer was invited to London to sing on their ] "Gypsy Girl".<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book
| first= Martin C.
| last= Strong
| year= 2000
| title= The Great Rock Discography
| edition= 5th
| publisher= Mojo Books
| location= Edinburgh
| pages= 2–3
| isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}</ref> The vocals for the album ''The Alan Bown Set!'', originally recorded by Roden (and released in the US that way), were re-recorded by Palmer after the success of the single.


In his teens,<ref name="Independent"/><!-- Sources are vague on the date of his return to England. "Independent" implies it was before age 12, while "BBC2003" says aged 19 (which seems too late considering his teen activities in England. --> Palmer moved to ].<ref name="BBC2003" /> He joined his first band, the Mandrakes, at the age of 15<ref name=TelegraphObit/> while still at ]. He left school the next year, after obtained six ]<Ref>https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/92650</ref> and briefly studied art at Scarborough School of Art & Design, before landing a job at the ''Scarborough Evening News''. He was reportedly fired after police found "the stub of a cannabis joint in a raid on his bedsit".<ref name="Medium" />
In 1970, Palmer joined the 12-piece jazz-rock fusion band Dada, which featured singer ]. The band lasted a year, after which Brooks and Palmer formed the critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful ] group, ]; Palmer sang and played rhythm guitar. Signed to the ] label, they released three albums: ''Vinegar Joe'' (1972), ''Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies'' (1972) and ''Six Star General'' (1973), before disbanding in March 1974.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/><ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years">{{cite book
| first= John
| last= Tobler
| year= 1992
| title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years
| edition= 1st
| publisher= Reed International Books Ltd
| location= London
| page= 262
| id= CN 5585}}</ref>


Palmer's first major break came with the departure of singer ] from the band ] in 1969, after which Palmer was invited to London to sing on the band's single "Gypsy Girl".<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book| first= Martin C.| last= Strong| year= 2014| title= The Great Rock Discography| edition= 5th| publisher= Mojo Books| location= Edinburgh| pages= 2–3| isbn= 978-1-84195-017-4}}</ref> The vocals for the album ''The Alan Bown!'', originally recorded by Roden (and released in the US that way), were re-recorded by Palmer after the success of the single. According to music journalist Paul Lester, Palmer rose from northern clubs in England to become "elegant and sophisticated" and the master of several styles.<ref name="BBC2003" />
==1974–1984: Early solo career==
] signed Palmer to a solo deal in 1974.<ref name="Rockopedia"/> His first solo album '']'' recorded in ], ] in 1974, was heavily influenced by the music of ] and the funk fusion of ] who acted as backing band along with producer/guitarist ] of Little Feat.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Although unsuccessful in the UK, both the album and single reached the Top 100 in the US.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Notably, "Sailin' Shoes" (the album's first track), Palmer's own "Hey Julia" and the ]–penned title track carry virtually the same rhythm, and were packaged on the album as a "trilogy" without a pause between them.


In 1970, he joined the 12-piece ] fusion band ], which featured singer ] and her husband ]. After a year, Palmer, Brooks, and Gage formed ]/] band ]. Palmer played rhythm guitar in the band and shared lead vocals with Brooks. Signed to the ] label, the band released three albums: ''Vinegar Joe'' (1972), ''Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies'' (1972), and ''Six Star General'' (1973), before disbanding in March 1974.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /><ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years">{{cite book| first= John| last= Tobler| year= 1992| title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years| edition= 1st| publisher= Reed International Books Ltd| location= London| page= 262| id= CN 5585}}</ref> Brooks later said Palmer "was a very good-looking guy", and that female fans were happy to find that Brooks and Palmer were not romantically linked.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://robert-palmer.over-blog.com/2021/06/elkie-brooks-remembers-singing-with-robert-palmer.html |title=Elkie Brooks Remembers Singing With Robert Palmer |website=Robert-palmer.over-blog.com|access-date=16 July 2018}}</ref>
Subsequently relocating from London to New York with his wife, Palmer released '']'' in November 1975 (featuring ] bassist ]).<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> An album infused with his interests in ] and rock music,<ref name="Rockopedia"/> 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.


===1974–1978: Early solo career===
However, with the failure of the follow-up '']'', Palmer decided to move to ], Bahamas, directly across the street from ]<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> which was owned by Palmer's mentor, Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records.
] signed Palmer to a solo deal in 1974.<ref name="Rockopedia" /> His first solo album, '']'', recorded in 1974 in ] was heavily influenced by the music of ] and the funk fusion of ], who acted as the backing band along with producer/guitarist ] of Little Feat.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> Unsuccessful in the UK, both the album and single reached the top 100 in the US.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> Notably, "Sailin' Shoes" (the album's first track, and a Little Feat cover), Palmer's own "Hey Julia" and the ]-penned title track carry virtually the same rhythm, and were packaged on the album as a "trilogy" without a pause between them.


In 1978, he released '']'', a collection of ]-influenced rock, including a ] of "]". The album reached the Top 50 on the US '']'' chart and scored a Top 20 single with the ]–penned "]".<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> The song has been covered by other artists including ] and Pliers, ] and ]. It reached #16 on the ].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> After relocating with his wife to New York City, Palmer released '']'', named for the cover version of the ] hit by ], in November 1975 (featuring ] bassist ]).<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> He toured with Little Feat to promote the ] and rock infused album.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /><ref name="Rockopedia" /> With the failure of follow-up album '']'', Palmer decided to move to ] directly across the street from ].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" />


In 1978, he released '']'', a collection of ]-influenced rock, including a ] of ]' "]". The album reached the top 50 on the US '']'' chart and scored a top 20 single with the ]-penned "]" which featured ] bassist ].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> The song has been covered by other artists including ] and Pliers, ], ] (produced by ]), and ]. It reached number 16 on the ].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" />
Palmer's next album was an artistic departure, concentrating on pure rock.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> 1979's '']'' produced his second Top 20 single with ]'s "]".<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> The #14 hit also gave Palmer his first Billboard Hot 100 year end chart hit.


===1979–1984: Growing mainstream success===
The 1980s saw ']' Palmer find an increasing amount of commercial success. The album '']'', produced by Palmer and featuring ] and ], generated hits on both sides of the ], first with the radio-friendly single "]" and then "Looking for Clues".<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Catchy music videos matching the ] stylings of ] gave him much needed exposure to a younger audience. The success was repeated with the 1982 EP release of '']''.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>
Palmer's next album was an artistic departure, concentrating on pure rock.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> 1979's '']'' produced his second top 20 single with ]'s "]".<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> The number 14 hit also gave Palmer his second ''Billboard'' Hot 100 year-end chart hit. The following year saw the release of '']'', produced by Palmer and featuring ] and ], which generated hits on both sides of the ], first with the radio-friendly single "]" and then "]".<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> Catchy music videos matching the ] stylings of ] gave him much-needed exposure to a younger audience. The success was repeated with the 1982 EP release of '']''.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> Going into the 1980s, Palmer's increasing commercial success as a performer fuelled his work as a producer, including on Jamaican ska legend ] 1981 album ''Compass Point''. In 1984, he helped Island label-mate ] in the production of his album '']''.


In April 1983 '']'' was released, which not as commercially successful as ''Clues'' did feature the title song and Palmer's cover of ]'s "You Are In My System", with The System's David Frank contributing keyboard tracks to the latter song.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> On 23 July 1983, Palmer performed at ] where he struck up friendships with members of ] which would spawn the ] ]. April 1983 saw the release of '']''. While not as commercially successful as ''Clues'', it featured the title song and Palmer's cover of ]'s "]", with The System's ] on keyboards.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> On 31 May 1983, Palmer's concert at the ] was recorded and broadcast on ].<ref> Your Way To Music. Retrieved 19 April 2012</ref> On 23 July 1983, he performed at ] striking up friendships with members of ] which later spawned the ] ].


==1985–1995: Power Station and MTV success== ===1985–1989: The Power Station and MTV success===
Duran Duran went on hiatus, and their guitarist ] and bassist ] joined former ] member ] and Palmer to form ].<ref name="Rockopedia"/> Their eponymous album, recorded mainly at ] for which the band was named, with overdubs and mixing at ] in ], reached the Top 20 in the UK and the Top 10 in the US. It spawned two hit singles with "]" (US #6) and a ] of the ] song "]", which peaked one position higher than the original at US #9. Palmer performed live with the band only once that year, on '']''. The band toured, and played ], with singer ] after Palmer bowed out at the last moment to go back into the recording studio to further his solo career. When Duran Duran went on hiatus, guitarist ] and bassist ] joined former ] drummer ] and Palmer to form ].<ref name="Rockopedia" /> Their ], recorded mainly at ] after which the band was named, with overdubs and mixing at ] in ] reached the top 20 in the UK and the top 10 in the US. It spawned two hit singles with "]" (US number 6) and a ] of the ] song "]", which peaked one position higher than the original at US number nine. Palmer's song 'Simply Irresistible' reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988.<ref>{{Cite web |last=tolsen |date=2013-01-02 |title=Billboard Hot 100™ |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1988-09-24/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> Palmer performed live with the band only once that year, on '']''. The band toured and played ], with singer ] after Palmer bowed out at the last moment to go back into the recording studio and further his solo career.


Some critics described Palmer's abandonment of the tour as being unprofessional. In '']'' magazine, he countered the claims that he joined the band for money: "Firstly, I didn't need the money and, secondly the cash was a long time coming. It wasn't exactly an experience that set me up for retirement."<ref name= one2>{{cite magazine| magazine= ] |date= 1986| title= Bob's Your Uncle| first= Pat |last= Thomas| pages= 28–29| url= https://robert-palmer.over-blog.com/2022/03/bob-s-your-uncle.html| via= robert-palmer.over-blog.com}}</ref> He also was accused of ripping off the Power Station sound for his own records. He responded, "Listen, I gave the Power Station that sound. They took it from me, not the other way around."<ref name=one2 />
Palmer recorded the album '']'' at ] in 1985, recruiting Thompson and Andy Taylor to play on some tracks plus Power Station record producer ], who worked with Thompson in Chic, to helm the production. ''Riptide'' featured the US #1 single "]". The single was accompanied by a memorable and much-parodied music video, directed by ], in which Palmer is surrounded by a bevy of near-identically clad, heavily made-up (and appropriately pouty) female "musicians," either mimicking or mocking the painting of ].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> In 1987, he won the ] for "Addicted to Love".


====''Riptide'' and move to EMI====
The singles "]" and his cover of ]'s "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" also performed well, with the latter being a #2 US and #9 UK hit single.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Another song, "Trick Bag," was written by one of his major influences, New Orleans jazz artist ].
Palmer recorded the album '']'' at Compass Point Studios in 1985, recruiting Thompson and Andy Taylor to play on some tracks plus Power Station record producer ], who worked with Thompson in Chic, to helm the production. ''Riptide'' featured the single "]", which reached number 1 in the United States and number 5 in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite book| author-link= Joel Whitburn | last= Whitburn| first= Joel| year= 2006| title= The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits| publisher= Billboard Books| isbn= }}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last= Roberts| first= David | year= 2006| title= ]| place= London| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited| isbn= }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/robert-palmer |title=Robert Palmer |magazine=Billboard |access-date=27 February 2019}}</ref> The single was accompanied by a memorable and much-imitated music video, directed by ], in which Palmer is surrounded by a bevy of near-identically clad, heavily made-up female models simulating musicians.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> Donovan also directed videos for the ] "Simply Irresistible" and "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On". All three videos contain similar elements, with women in heavy makeup and with near identical clothes and appearances.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums" /> In September 1986, Palmer performed "Addicted to Love" at the ] in Los Angeles.<ref> MTV.com. Retrieved 5 December 2011</ref> In 1987, he won the ] for "Addicted to Love". At the 1987 ], Palmer received his first nomination for Best British Male.<ref name="BritAwards" />


Another single from ''Riptide'', his cover of ]'s "]", also performed well (US number two, UK number nine).<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> Another song, "Trick Bag", was written by one of his major influences, New Orleans R&B artist ].
Concerned about the rising crime rate in ], Palmer moved to ], Switzerland, in 1987 and set up his own recording studio.<ref name="Rockopedia"/> Producing '']'' in 1988, Palmer again returned to experimenting, this time with ] rhythms, heavy rock and white-soul balladeering. He repeated his previous success of "Addicted to Love" with the video of "]", again with a troupe of female "musicians". The song reached #2 in the US and was Palmer's final Top Ten hit there. The ballad "She Makes My Day" also proved to be a hit in the UK, peaking at #6.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> In 1989, he won a second ] for "Simply Irresistible",<ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years 2">{{cite book
| first= John
| last= Tobler
| year= 1992
| title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years
| edition= 1st
| publisher= Reed International Books Ltd
| location= London
| page= 453
| id= CN 5585}}</ref> which would later be featured in the ] winning musical '']''. '']'' magazine voted Palmer the best-dressed rock star for 1990.


Concerned about the rising crime rate in Nassau and having landed a deal with ], Palmer moved to ] in 1987 and set up his own recording studio.<ref name="Rockopedia" /> Producing '']'' in 1988, Palmer returned to experimenting this time with ] rhythms, heavy rock and white-soul balladeering. He repeated his previous success of "Addicted to Love" with the video of "]", again with a troupe of female dancers in heavy makeup. The song reached number two in the US and was Palmer's final top ten hit there. The ] "]" also proved to be a hit in the UK, peaking at number 6.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> In 1989, he won a second ] for "Simply Irresistible",<ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years 2">{{cite book| first= John| last= Tobler| year= 1992| title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years| edition= 1st| publisher= Reed International Books Ltd| location= London| page= 453| id= CN 5585}}</ref> which would later be featured in the ]-winning musical '']''. At the 1989 ], Palmer received his second nomination for Best British Male, and "Simply Irresistible" was nominated for Best British Single.<ref name="BritAwards" /> '']'' magazine voted Palmer the best-dressed rock star for 1990.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}
Palmer expanded his range even further for his next album, '']'' (1990). It also featured the ] penned Top 10 single "]", in a collaboration with ], that secured a #6 placing in the UK, and the Top-20 ] ] "]". Throughout the 1990s, Palmer ventured further into diverse material. The 1992 album '']'' was a tribute to the ] era.<ref name="Rockopedia"/><ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>


===1990s: Continued success===
In 1994, Palmer released '']'' to mixed reviews. While the album failed to produce any hit singles in the US, he did find success in the UK with the release of three modest hit singles "]", "Know By Now" and "You Blow Me Away".<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>
Palmer expanded his range further for his next album, '']'' (1990). It featured two UK top 10 hits with covers of ]'s "]" (a collaboration with ]) and ]'s "]". Throughout the 1990s, Palmer ventured further into diverse material. The 1992 album '']'' was a tribute to the ] era.<ref name="Rockopedia" /><ref name="The Great Rock Discography" />


In 1995, Palmer reunited with other members of The Power Station to record a second album. Bassist John Taylor eventually backed out of the project, to be replaced by Bernard Edwards. Palmer and the rest of the band completed the album '']'' (1996), and had just begun touring when Edwards died from ]. In 1994, Palmer released '']'' to mixed reviews. While the album failed to produce any hit singles in the US, the album had three modest hit singles in the UK, "]", "]", and "]".<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> In 1995 he released a greatest hits album, which reached number 4 in the UK.<ref name="BBC2003" /> Also in 1995 he reunited with other members of the Power Station to record a second album. Bassist John Taylor eventually backed out of the project, to be replaced by ]. Palmer and the rest of the band completed the album '']'' (1996), and had just begun touring when Edwards died from ].


In 1997, Palmer performed with ] at ].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kovats|first1=Tom|title=Rod Stewart Robert Palmer Some Boys Have All The Luck Live Songs & Visions Concert Wembley 1997|date=23 September 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF44-y74dsw|via=]|access-date=28 December 2017}}{{cbignore}} Archived at {{cbignore}} and the {{cbignore}}</ref>
==Cultural references==

The opening line of ]'s 1996 novel ''Night Lamp'' is: "Toward the far edge of the Cornu Sector of Ophiuchus, Robert Palmer's Star shone brilliant white, its corona flaring with films of blue, red and green colour."

Australian rock group ]'s 1979 debut single, "]", includes the line: "He's got a Robert Palmer t-shirt in his travel bag".

The American band Phish has a lyric in their song "Tube" that reads "Robert Palmer is a plore".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Tube-lyrics-Phish/C8D57C70D47DAABD48256ED1000C7108}}</ref>


==Personal life== ==Personal life==
Palmer met Sue, his future wife, at ] in 1969, attracted by her style (silver-coloured boots and matching mini-dress) and by the ] book she was reading.<ref name="Independent"/> They married on his 21st birthday. They had two children.<Ref>https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-92650?rskey=p6qSKe&result=10</Ref> The family moved to New York City in the mid-1970s and then to the ] a few years later. In 1987, Palmer and his family moved to ], Switzerland. The couple divorced in 1993.<ref name=TelegraphObit/>
Robert Palmer married Susan Eileen Thatcher in 1971. They had two children together, James and Jane. They divorced in 1999.<ref name="Chicago Sun Times">{{cite news |first=Frank |last=Phelps |coauthors= |title=Dapper Rocker Robert Palmer dies |work=] |page=27 |date=28 September 2003 |accessdate=2 May 2009|quote= |url= }}</ref><ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |first= |last= |coauthors= |title=Robert Palmer Singer whose designer suits and hit record Addicted to Love came to symbolise the excesses of the 1980s/Corrections |work=] |page=20 |date=29 September 2003 |accessdate=2 May 2009|quote= |url= }}</ref> In 1993, Palmer permanently relocated from the Bahamas to a converted mill-house in ] after he found that the islands had become overrun with drugs and guns and were no longer safe.<ref name="Telegraph"/> Palmer's partner at the time of his death was Geraldine Edwards.<ref name="Chicago Sun Times"/><ref name="Telegraph"/>


While he had not lived in ] for several decades, in the last interview he gave, Palmer said that the region, and his father, had given him "a healthy work ethic, and a straight-forwardness".<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Robert Palmer - Last Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nFXlye5Er8 |language=en | via= YouTube |access-date=18 January 2023}}</ref>
==Later life and death==
Palmer moved to ], Switzerland, in 1986, and became a naturalized citizen of Switzerland in 1993. He lived there until his death seventeen years later.


==Death==
He died in Paris, France, from a ] on 26 September 2003 at the age of 54. Palmer was staying at the Warwick de Berri Hotel at the time of his death. He was vacationing with his close friend, Jack Bruce, and conducting publicity appearances for his most recent release ] prior to his death.
Palmer, an extremely heavy smoker from his teenage years, died from a ] in a Paris hotel room on 26 September 2003 at age 54. He had been there after recording a television appearance in London for ''My Kinda People'', a ] retrospective.<ref name="BBC2003">{{cite news| url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3142710.stm | title= Singer Robert Palmer dies| date= 26 September 2023| website= BBC.co.uk| publisher= BBC| access-date= 19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/27/obituaries/27PALM.html |title= Robert Palmer, Singer With Image of a Pop Romeo, Dies at 54 |last=Parales |first=Jon |date=27 September 2003 |newspaper=] |access-date=19 December 2013}}</ref> His long-term partner and musical colleague, Mary Ambrose, had joined him in Paris for a planned two-day break from the television studio.<ref>{{Cite web| url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/26/arts.artsnews3|title=Robert Palmer dies aged 54|date=26 September 2003|website=Theguardian.com}}</ref>


Among those who paid tribute were ], saying, "He was a very dear friend and a great artist. This is a tragic loss to the British music industry."<ref name="BBC2003" /> A memorial service was held in Lugano, and his body was buried there.<Ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3145088.stm</Ref>
He was survived by his parents, Leslie and Anna Palmer, his partner Geraldine Edwards, his brother Mark Palmer, and his children James, Jane, Anthony, Anna and Martin.


==Awards and nominations==
In October 2004, newspapers reported on the struggle for Palmer's estate, worth an estimated £30 million, between Mary Ambrose and Palmer's two children. Ambrose claimed Palmer had changed his will to favour herself.<ref>{{cite news |first=Tracy |last=Marks |coauthors= |title=Former Employee and Lover of Robert Palmer Challenges his Will; Mary Ambrose says she is not a Heartless Goldigger |work=] |page=39 |date=29 October 2004 |accessdate=2 May 2009|quote= |url= }}</ref> According to commentators at AbsoluteRadio.co.uk, the courts denied Ms Ambrose's claim as without merit and she was awarded only $16,000.00 per the Court of Appeal of Ticino 19 Dec. 07 (11.2004.49) in compensation with the remainder of the estate divided amongst Palmer's two children and UNICEF, to which Palmer donated a large charitable contribution.<ref>{{cite news |first=|last=|coauthors= |title=update robert palmer|work= |page= |date= |accessdate=14 Feb 2011|quote= |url=http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/artists/Robert-Palmer/forum/54549/update-robert-palmer/page2.html }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

On her '']'' compilation album, Palmer's Switzerland neighbour ] added a live version of "]" in tribute to him.

==Discography==
===Albums===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Label
! RIAA Certification
! BPI Certification
|- |-
! scope="col" | Award
| 1974
! scope="col" | Year
| '']''
! scope="col" | Nominee(s)
| rowspan="8"| ]
! scope="col" | Category
|align="center"|-
! scope="col" | Result
|align="center"|-
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|- |-
! scope="row" rowspan=2|]
| 1975
| 1986
| '']''
| "]"
|align="center"|-
| rowspan=2|Most Performed Songs
|align="center"|-
| {{won}}
|-
| <ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT76| title = ASCAP Awards Ceremony| magazine= Billboard| page= 79| volume= 98| number= 24| via = Google Books |date = 14 June 1986}}</ref>
| 1976
| '']''
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| 1978
| '']''
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| 1979
| '']''
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| 1980
| '']''
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| 1983
| '']''
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| 1985
| '']''
|align="center"|2xMulti-Platinum
|align="center"|Gold
|-
| 1988
| '']''
| rowspan="6"|]
|align="center"|Platinum
|align="center"|Gold
|- |-
| 1990 | 1990
| '']'' | "]"
| {{won}}
|align="center"|-
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1990/CB-1990-06-23.pdf|title=Cash Box|date=23 June 1990 |website= Worldradiohistory.com |access-date=3 October 2021}}</ref>
|align="center"|Gold
|- |-
!scope="row" rowspan=5|]
| 1992
| ]
| '']''
| "]"
|align="center"|-
| ]
|align="center"|-
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=5|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/robert-palmer/15145|title = Robert Palmer|website=Grammy.com|date = 23 November 2020}}</ref>
|- |-
| rowspan=3|]
| 1994
| rowspan=3|"]"
| '']''
| ]
|align="center"|-
| {{nom}}
|align="center"|-
|- |-
| ]
| 1999
| {{nom}}
| '']''
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|- |-
|rowspan=2|]
| 2003
| {{won}}
| '']''
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
! colspan="5"| Live Albums
|-
| 1982
| '']''
| Island
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| 2001
| '']''
| Eagle
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| 2010
| '']''
| Spectrum
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
! colspan="5"| Compilations
|-
| 1989
| '']''
| Island
|align="center"|Platinum
|align="center"|Platinum
|-
| 1992
| '']''
| Island
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|Silver
|-
| 1995
| '']''
| ]
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|Platinum
|-
| 1998
| '']''
| Metro Blue
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| 2002
| ''At His Very Best''
| Universal/Island
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| 2002
| ''Best of Both Worlds: The Robert Palmer Anthology (1974–2001)''
| Island
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| 2005
| ''The Very Best of the Island Years''
| Island
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
| 2007
| ''The Silver Collection''
| Universal
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|-
! colspan="5"| With ]
|-
| 1985
| '']''
| Capitol
|align="center"|Platinum
|align="center"|Gold
|-
| 1996
| '']''
| Capitol
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|-
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%;"
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Title
!rowspan="2"| Album
!colspan="9"| Chart positions
|-
! width="45" |<small>]</small><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| pages= 415–416}}</ref><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2">{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 433}}</ref>
! width="45" |<small>]</small>
! width="45" |<small>]</small>
! width="45" |<small>US<br />]</small>
! width="45" |<small>US<br />]</small>
! width="45" |<small>US<br />]</small>
! width="45" |<small>US<br />]</small>
! width="45" |<small>]</small>
! width="45" |<small>]</small>
|-
| 1976
| "Get Outside"
| ''Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley''
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
|1976
| "Give Me An Inch Girl"
| ''Pressure Drop''
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"|-
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| 1977
| "Man Smart, Woman Smarter"
| ''Some People Can Do What They Like''
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"|63
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1978
| "]"
| rowspan="3"| ''Double Fun''
|align="center"|53
|align="center"| –
|align="center"|12
|align="center"|16
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 22
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| "Best of Both Worlds"
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 36
|align="center"| –
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1979
| "What's It Take"
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 19
|align="center"| –
|-
| "]"
| rowspan="3"| ''Secrets''
|align="center"|61
|align="center"| –
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|14
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| "Jealous"
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 31
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| "]"
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"|52
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1980
| "]"
| rowspan="2"|''Clues''
|align="center"|44
|align="center"| –
|align="center"|32
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 7
|align="center"| –
|-
| "Looking for Clues"
|align="center"| 33
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 7
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 3
|align="center"| –
|-
| 1982
| "]"
| ''Maybe It's Live''
|align="center"| 16
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 59
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 52
|align="center"| –
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1983
| "You Are in My System"
| rowspan="3"|''Pride''
|align="center"| 53
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 78
|align="center"| 33
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 52
|align="center"| –
|-
| "You Can Have It (Take My Heart)"
|align="center"| 66
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| "Pride"
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1985
| The Power Station: "]"
| rowspan="3"| ''The Power Station''
|align="center"| 14
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| 9
|align="center"| 6
|align="center"| 34
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| 16
|align="center"| –
|-
| The Power Station: "]"
|align="center"| 22
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| 15
|align="center"| 9
|align="center"| 19
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| 37
|align="center"| –
|-
| The Power Station: "]"
|align="center"| 75
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| 46
|align="center"| 34
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| "Discipline of Love"
| rowspan="6"| ''Riptide''
|align="center"| 95
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 82
|align="center"| 63
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| rowspan="5"| 1986
| "Riptide"
|align="center"| 85
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| "]"
|align="center"| 5
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 4
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 4
|-
| "Hyperactive"
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 33
|align="center"| 21
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On"
|align="center"| 9
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 13
|align="center"| 2
|align="center"| 3
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 8
|-
| "Discipline of Love" (re-issue)
|align="center"| 68
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1988
| "]"
| ''Sweet Lies Motion Picture Soundtrack''
|align="center"| 58
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 94
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|- |-
| ]
| "]" | "]"
| {{won}}
| rowspan="6"|''Heavy Nova''
|align="center"| 44
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 2
|align="center"| 2
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 57
|align="center"| –
|- |-
! scope="row" rowspan=6|]
| "]"
| rowspan=5|]
|align="center"| –
| rowspan=5|"]"
|align="center"| 26
| ]
|align="center"| 81
| {{nom}}
|align="center"| 19
| rowspan=6|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0658433/awards|title=Robert Palmer|website=IMDb.com|access-date=3 October 2021}}</ref>
|align="center"| 40
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|- |-
| ]
| "She Makes My Day"
| {{won}}
|align="center"| 6
|align="center"| 9
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 6
|- |-
| ]
| rowspan="4"| 1989
| {{nom}}
| "]"
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 60
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|- |-
| ]
| "Change His Ways"
| {{nom}}
|align="center"| 28
|align="center"| 38
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 62
|align="center"| 21
|- |-
| ]
| "It Could Happen to You"
| {{nom}}
|align="center"| 71
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|- |-
| ]
| "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor Doctor)" (re-issue)
| "]"
| ''Addictions Volume I''
| ]
|align="center"| 80
| {{nom}}
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1990
| "Life in Detail"
| ''Pretty Woman ''
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 34
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 7
|align="center"| 14
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| "]" (Robert Palmer and UB40)
| rowspan="5"| ''Don't Explain''
|align="center"| 6
|align="center"| 4
|align="center"| 58
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 24
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 14
|align="center"| 6
|-
| "You're Amazing"
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 14
|align="center"| 28
|align="center"| 5
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1991
| "]" / "]"
|align="center"| 9
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 6
|align="center"| 16
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 4
|align="center"| 33
|align="center"| 8
|-
| "Dreams to Remember"
|align="center"| 68
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| "Happiness"
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 62
|align="center"| –
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1992
| "Every Kinda People" (remix)
| ''Addictions Volume II''
|align="center"| 43
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 26
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 8
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| "Witchcraft"
| ''Ridin' High''
|align="center"| 50
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1994
| "Girl U Want"
| rowspan=3| ''Honey''
|align="center"| 57
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| "Know by Now"
|align="center"| 25
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 23
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| 51
|align="center"| –
|-
| "You Blow Me Away"
|align="center"| 38
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| 1995
| "Respect Yourself"
| ''The Very Best of''
|align="center"| 45
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| 1996
| The Power Station: "]"
| ''Living in Fear''
|align="center"| 63
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| -
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| 1999
| "True Love"
| ''Rhythm and Blues''
|align="center"| 94
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|-
| 2003
| "Addicted to Love" (Remix) (Shake B4 Use vs. Robert Palmer)
| ''Addicted to Love (Remix) – single''
|align="center"| 42
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|align="center"| –
|- |-
!scope="row"|]
| 1987
| ''Tour''
| Small Hall Tour of the Year
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Pollstar Awards Archive - 1986 |url=http://www.pollstarpro.com/PCIA-Static/awards1986.htm |date=20 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320043538/http://www.pollstarpro.com/PCIA-Static/awards1986.htm |archive-date=20 March 2017 }}</ref>
|} |}

==Discography==
{{Main|Robert Palmer discography}}
'''Studio albums'''
* '']'' (1974)
* '']'' (1975)
* '']'' (1976)
* '']'' (1978)
* '']'' (1979)
* '']'' (1980)
* '']'' (1982) (half studio tracks, half live)
* '']'' (1983)
* '']'' (1985)
* '']'' (1988)
* '']'' (1990)
* '']'' (1992)
* '']'' (1994)
* '']'' (1999)
* '']'' (2003)


==References== ==References==
Line 880: Line 176:


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category|Robert Palmer}}
*
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000093632}}
*
* {{discogs artist}}
*
* {{IMDb name|0658433|name=Robert Palmer}}
*


{{Robert Palmer}} {{Robert Palmer}}
{{The Power Station}}

{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. -->
| NAME = Palmer, Robert
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 19 January 1949
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 26 September 2003
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Palmer, Robert}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Palmer, Robert}}
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Latest revision as of 23:45, 3 January 2025

English musician (1949–2003) This article is about the English singer. For other people named Robert Palmer, see Robert Palmer.

Robert Palmer
Palmer singing into a microphone onstagePalmer in 1986
Background information
Birth nameRobert Allen Palmer
Born(1949-01-19)19 January 1949
Batley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died26 September 2003(2003-09-26) (aged 54)
Paris, France
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1964–2003
Labels
Formerly of
Spouse Susan Eileen Thatcher ​ ​(m. 1971; div. 1993)​
Musical artist

Robert Allen Palmer (19 January 1949 – 26 September 2003) was an English singer and songwriter. He was known for his powerful and soulful voice, his sartorial elegance, and his stylistic explorations, combining soul, funk, jazz, rock, pop, reggae, and blues. His 1986 song "Addicted to Love" and its accompanying video came to "epitomise the glamour and excesses of the 1980s".

Having started in the music industry in the 1960s, including a spell with Vinegar Joe, Palmer found success in the 1980s, both in his solo career and with the Power Station, scoring Top 10 hits in the United Kingdom and the United States. Three of his hit singles, including "Addicted to Love", featured music videos directed by British fashion photographer Terence Donovan.

Palmer received a number of awards throughout his career, including two Grammy Awards for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance and an MTV Video Music Award. He was also nominated for the Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist in 1987 and 1989. He died from a heart attack aged 54.

Career

1964–1973: Early bands

Palmer was born in 1949 in Batley, West Yorkshire. When he was only a few months old, he and his family moved to Malta, where his father worked in British naval intelligence. He was influenced as a child by blues, soul, and jazz music played on American Forces Radio and by his parents' musical tastes. His family returned to the UK when he was 12.

In his teens, Palmer moved to Scarborough, North Yorkshire. He joined his first band, the Mandrakes, at the age of 15 while still at Scarborough High School for Boys. He left school the next year, after obtained six O-levels and briefly studied art at Scarborough School of Art & Design, before landing a job at the Scarborough Evening News. He was reportedly fired after police found "the stub of a cannabis joint in a raid on his bedsit".

Palmer's first major break came with the departure of singer Jess Roden from the band the Alan Bown Set in 1969, after which Palmer was invited to London to sing on the band's single "Gypsy Girl". The vocals for the album The Alan Bown!, originally recorded by Roden (and released in the US that way), were re-recorded by Palmer after the success of the single. According to music journalist Paul Lester, Palmer rose from northern clubs in England to become "elegant and sophisticated" and the master of several styles.

In 1970, he joined the 12-piece jazz-rock fusion band Dada, which featured singer Elkie Brooks and her husband Pete Gage. After a year, Palmer, Brooks, and Gage formed soul/rock band Vinegar Joe. Palmer played rhythm guitar in the band and shared lead vocals with Brooks. Signed to the Island Records label, the band released three albums: Vinegar Joe (1972), Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies (1972), and Six Star General (1973), before disbanding in March 1974. Brooks later said Palmer "was a very good-looking guy", and that female fans were happy to find that Brooks and Palmer were not romantically linked.

1974–1978: Early solo career

Island Records signed Palmer to a solo deal in 1974. His first solo album, Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley, recorded in 1974 in New Orleans was heavily influenced by the music of Little Feat and the funk fusion of the Meters, who acted as the backing band along with producer/guitarist Lowell George of Little Feat. Unsuccessful in the UK, both the album and single reached the top 100 in the US. Notably, "Sailin' Shoes" (the album's first track, and a Little Feat cover), Palmer's own "Hey Julia" and the Allen Toussaint-penned title track carry virtually the same rhythm, and were packaged on the album as a "trilogy" without a pause between them.

After relocating with his wife to New York City, Palmer released Pressure Drop, named for the cover version of the reggae hit by Toots and the Maytals, in November 1975 (featuring Motown bassist James Jamerson). He toured with Little Feat to promote the reggae and rock infused album. With the failure of follow-up album Some People Can Do What They Like, Palmer decided to move to Nassau, Bahamas directly across the street from Compass Point Studios.

In 1978, he released Double Fun, a collection of Caribbean-influenced rock, including a cover of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me". The album reached the top 50 on the US Billboard chart and scored a top 20 single with the Andy Fraser-penned "Every Kinda People" which featured Philly Sound bassist Bob Babbitt. The song has been covered by other artists including Chaka Demus and Pliers, Randy Crawford, the Mint Juleps (produced by Trevor Horn), and Amy Grant. It reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.

1979–1984: Growing mainstream success

Palmer's next album was an artistic departure, concentrating on pure rock. 1979's Secrets produced his second top 20 single with Moon Martin's "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)". The number 14 hit also gave Palmer his second Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart hit. The following year saw the release of Clues, produced by Palmer and featuring Chris Frantz and Gary Numan, which generated hits on both sides of the Atlantic, first with the radio-friendly single "Johnny and Mary" and then "Looking for Clues". Catchy music videos matching the synth-pop stylings of new wave gave him much-needed exposure to a younger audience. The success was repeated with the 1982 EP release of Some Guys Have All the Luck. Going into the 1980s, Palmer's increasing commercial success as a performer fuelled his work as a producer, including on Jamaican ska legend Desmond Dekker's 1981 album Compass Point. In 1984, he helped Island label-mate John Martyn in the production of his album Sapphire.

April 1983 saw the release of Pride. While not as commercially successful as Clues, it featured the title song and Palmer's cover of The System's "You Are in My System", with The System's David Frank on keyboards. On 31 May 1983, Palmer's concert at the Hammersmith Palais was recorded and broadcast on BBC Radio 1. On 23 July 1983, he performed at Duran Duran's charity concert at Aston Villa football ground striking up friendships with members of Duran Duran which later spawned the supergroup the Power Station.

1985–1989: The Power Station and MTV success

When Duran Duran went on hiatus, guitarist Andy Taylor and bassist John Taylor joined former Chic drummer Tony Thompson and Palmer to form The Power Station. Their eponymous album, recorded mainly at the New York recording studio after which the band was named, with overdubs and mixing at Compass Point Studios in Nassau reached the top 20 in the UK and the top 10 in the US. It spawned two hit singles with "Some Like It Hot" (US number 6) and a cover of the T. Rex song "Get It On (Bang a Gong)", which peaked one position higher than the original at US number nine. Palmer's song 'Simply Irresistible' reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. Palmer performed live with the band only once that year, on Saturday Night Live. The band toured and played Live Aid, with singer Michael Des Barres after Palmer bowed out at the last moment to go back into the recording studio and further his solo career.

Some critics described Palmer's abandonment of the tour as being unprofessional. In Number One magazine, he countered the claims that he joined the band for money: "Firstly, I didn't need the money and, secondly the cash was a long time coming. It wasn't exactly an experience that set me up for retirement." He also was accused of ripping off the Power Station sound for his own records. He responded, "Listen, I gave the Power Station that sound. They took it from me, not the other way around."

Riptide and move to EMI

Palmer recorded the album Riptide at Compass Point Studios in 1985, recruiting Thompson and Andy Taylor to play on some tracks plus Power Station record producer Bernard Edwards, who worked with Thompson in Chic, to helm the production. Riptide featured the single "Addicted to Love", which reached number 1 in the United States and number 5 in the United Kingdom. The single was accompanied by a memorable and much-imitated music video, directed by Terence Donovan, in which Palmer is surrounded by a bevy of near-identically clad, heavily made-up female models simulating musicians. Donovan also directed videos for the hits "Simply Irresistible" and "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On". All three videos contain similar elements, with women in heavy makeup and with near identical clothes and appearances. In September 1986, Palmer performed "Addicted to Love" at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles. In 1987, he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Addicted to Love". At the 1987 Brit Awards, Palmer received his first nomination for Best British Male.

Another single from Riptide, his cover of Cherrelle's "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On", also performed well (US number two, UK number nine). Another song, "Trick Bag", was written by one of his major influences, New Orleans R&B artist Earl King.

Concerned about the rising crime rate in Nassau and having landed a deal with EMI, Palmer moved to Lugano, Switzerland in 1987 and set up his own recording studio. Producing Heavy Nova in 1988, Palmer returned to experimenting this time with bossa nova rhythms, heavy rock and white-soul balladeering. He repeated his previous success of "Addicted to Love" with the video of "Simply Irresistible", again with a troupe of female dancers in heavy makeup. The song reached number two in the US and was Palmer's final top ten hit there. The ballad "She Makes My Day" also proved to be a hit in the UK, peaking at number 6. In 1989, he won a second Grammy for "Simply Irresistible", which would later be featured in the Tony Award-winning musical Contact. At the 1989 Brit Awards, Palmer received his second nomination for Best British Male, and "Simply Irresistible" was nominated for Best British Single. Rolling Stone magazine voted Palmer the best-dressed rock star for 1990.

1990s: Continued success

Palmer expanded his range further for his next album, Don't Explain (1990). It featured two UK top 10 hits with covers of Bob Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (a collaboration with UB40) and Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me". Throughout the 1990s, Palmer ventured further into diverse material. The 1992 album Ridin' High was a tribute to the Tin Pan Alley era.

In 1994, Palmer released Honey to mixed reviews. While the album failed to produce any hit singles in the US, the album had three modest hit singles in the UK, "Girl U Want", "Know by Now", and "You Blow Me Away". In 1995 he released a greatest hits album, which reached number 4 in the UK. Also in 1995 he reunited with other members of the Power Station to record a second album. Bassist John Taylor eventually backed out of the project, to be replaced by Bernard Edwards. Palmer and the rest of the band completed the album Living in Fear (1996), and had just begun touring when Edwards died from pneumonia.

In 1997, Palmer performed with Rod Stewart at Wembley.

Personal life

Palmer met Sue, his future wife, at Slough railway station in 1969, attracted by her style (silver-coloured boots and matching mini-dress) and by the science-fiction book she was reading. They married on his 21st birthday. They had two children. The family moved to New York City in the mid-1970s and then to the Bahamas a few years later. In 1987, Palmer and his family moved to Lugano, Switzerland. The couple divorced in 1993.

While he had not lived in Yorkshire for several decades, in the last interview he gave, Palmer said that the region, and his father, had given him "a healthy work ethic, and a straight-forwardness".

Death

Palmer, an extremely heavy smoker from his teenage years, died from a heart attack in a Paris hotel room on 26 September 2003 at age 54. He had been there after recording a television appearance in London for My Kinda People, a Yorkshire TV retrospective. His long-term partner and musical colleague, Mary Ambrose, had joined him in Paris for a planned two-day break from the television studio.

Among those who paid tribute were Duran Duran, saying, "He was a very dear friend and a great artist. This is a tragic loss to the British music industry." A memorial service was held in Lugano, and his body was buried there.

Awards and nominations

Award Year Nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
ASCAP Pop Music Awards 1986 "Addicted to Love" Most Performed Songs Won
1990 "Simply Irresistible" Won
Grammy Awards 1980 "Bad Case of Loving You" Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male Nominated
1987 "Addicted to Love" Song of the Year Nominated
Record of the Year Nominated
Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male Won
1989 "Simply Irresistible" Won
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 "Addicted to Love" Video of the Year Nominated
Best Male Video Won
Best Stage Performance in a Video Nominated
Best Overall Performance Nominated
Viewer's Choice Nominated
1987 "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" Best Male Video Nominated
Pollstar Concert Industry Awards 1987 Tour Small Hall Tour of the Year Won

Discography

Main article: Robert Palmer discography

Studio albums

References

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  4. "Addicted to Love: fashion's favourite video for 30 years". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
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  6. Profile: Robert Palmer. Rock on the Net. Retrieved 14 April 2012
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  33. "Pollstar Awards Archive - 1986". 20 March 2017. Archived from the original on 20 March 2017.

External links

Robert Palmer
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilations
Singles
Related articles
The Power Station
Studio albums
Singles
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