Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer was a British singer and songwriter who had a successful and diverse career in music for almost four decades. He was known for his distinctive voice, sharp suits, and eclectic musical tastes, ranging from soul, funk, jazz, rock, pop, reggae, and blues. He was born on January 19, 1949, in Batley, Yorkshire, to a naval intelligence officer father and a teacher mother. He moved with his family to Malta when he was a baby and grew up listening to American Forces Radio and his parents' records. He developed a passion for singing and music at an early age and joined his first band, the Mandrakes, when he was 15. He left school the following year to pursue a career in music and journalism. He moved to London in 1969 and joined the Alan Bown Set as a vocalist. He then became a member of the jazz-rock fusion band Dada, which later evolved into Vinegar Joe with singer Elkie Brooks. He released three albums with Vinegar Joe before going solo in 1974. His debut solo album Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley featured members of the Meters and Little Feat as backing musicians and showcased his love for New Orleans funk and R&B. He followed it with Pressure Drop (1975) and Some People Can Do What They Like (1976), which further established his reputation as a versatile and sophisticated singer. He moved to Nassau in the Bahamas in 1978 and recorded his next three albums there: Double Fun (1978), Secrets (1979), and Clues (1980). These albums reflected his interest in reggae, disco, synth-pop, and new wave, and featured collaborations with Gary Numan, Andy Fraser, and Chris Frantz. He also scored his first UK top 20 hit with "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor Doctor)" in 1979. In 1981, he released Maybe It's Live, a live album with some new studio tracks, including a cover of Bob Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" with UB40. In 1983, he formed a supergroup called the Power Station with John Taylor and Andy Taylor of Duran Duran and Tony Thompson of Chic. The band had a huge success with their self-titled debut album in 1985, which spawned the hits "Some Like It Hot" and "Get It On (Bang a Gong)". Palmer also released his own solo album Riptide in 1985, which became his best-selling album to date and featured his signature song "Addicted to Love". The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and won him a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1987. The song's iconic video, directed by Terence Donovan, featured Palmer singing in front of a band of attractive women dressed in black dresses and red lipstick. The video became a staple of MTV and influenced many other artists' videos. Palmer continued his success with Heavy Nova (1988), which included another Grammy-winning song "Simply Irresistible" and a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me,I Want You". He also experimented with different musical genres on Don't Explain (1990), Ridin' High (1992), Honey (1994), Rhythm & Blues (1999), and Drive (2003). He also reunited with the Power Station for their second album Living in Fear (1996), which was released after the death of their original bassist John Taylor. Palmer was also known for his collaborations with other artists, such as Eric Clapton, Chaka Khan, Little Steven, Robert Plant, and Tina Turner. He also performed at several charity concerts, such as Live Aid in 1985 and the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute in 1988. He received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including two Brit Award nominations for Best British Male Solo Artist and an MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video. He was also voted the best-dressed male artist by Rolling Stone magazine in 1990. Palmer died of a heart attack on September 26, 2003, in Paris, France, at the age of 54. He was with his partner Mary Ambrose, whom he had been dating since 1999. He was survived by his four children from his previous marriages and his parents. He was buried in Lugano Cemetery in Switzerland, where he had lived for many years. Palmer is widely regarded as one of the most influential and versatile singers of his generation and a pioneer of blending different musical styles. His music has been covered by artists such as Sheryl Crow, Rod Stewart, Santana, and Adele. He has also been cited as an inspiration by musicians such as Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, and Pharrell Williams. Palmer's legacy lives on through his music and his fans around the world.