Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer Artistfacts

  • January 19, 1949 - September 26, 2003
  • The English singer-songwriter caught his big break when he was invited to replace The Alan Bown Set's lead singer on the band's 1969 single "Gypsy Girl." Over the next couple years, he sang and played guitar for jazz and R&B groups (such as Vinegar Joe) before signing to Island Records in 1974. He released his solo album, Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley, that year.
  • His biggest commercial success came in the '80s, most notably with his signature tune "Addicted To Love." The single was bolstered by a hit video on MTV, with the sharply dressed singer backed by a faux-band of chic fashion models. Often emulated and parodied, the clip becomes one of the defining images of the decade and makes Palmer a star.
  • Palmer was a very sharp dresser, usually seen in impeccably tailored suits.
  • While recording the 1988 album Heavy Nova, Palmer received an unsolicited track called "Lust You Always" from none other than Prince. He recorded the song, but didn't include it on the album. Said Palmer: "I had to record it because I didn't want to offend the chap, did I? But I thought the lyric stank."
  • He was a member of the '80s supergroup The Power Station, joined by Chic drummer Tony Thompson and Duran Duran's John Taylor and Andy Taylor. The band's eponymous album yielded the Top 10 hits "Some Like It Hot" and "Bang A Gong (Get It On)." On the accusation of copying the group's sound for his own solo records, Palmer told Number One magazine: "Listen, I gave the Power Station that sound. They took it from me, not the other way around."
  • He won two Grammy Awards for Best Rock Vocal Performance, one for "Addicted to Love" and one for "Simply Irresistible."
  • Palmer was a world traveler. He lived in Malta for much of his childhood and also lived in Switzerland and the Bahamas
  • There was another prominent Robert Palmer in the world of music: an American journalist who wrote for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and various other publications. (Another rocker/journalist namesake combo: Bill Wyman). Robert Palmer the journalist also died young, succumbing to liver disease at 52 in 1997.
  • Palmer was visiting Paris, France, when he died in his hotel room from a cardiac arrest on September 26, 2003.

Comments: 2

  • Ss from GeorgiaWhy are 2 girls wearing short black dresses and 2 girls wearing knee length black dresses in the “Addicted to Love” video with Robert Palmer? Is there some kind of message?
  • Michael Fox from Zephyrhills, FlWhile the dancing in Addicted to Love is often parodied, it can be first seen, almost exactly, in Queen's Body Language music video. It's almost uncanny!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets

Curt Kirkwood of Meat PuppetsSongwriter Interviews

The (Meat)puppetmaster takes us through songs like "Lake Of Fire" and "Backwater," and talks about performing with Kurt Cobain on MTV Unplugged.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo Lyric

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.