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MTV's favorite lounge lizard of the Reagan era, Robert Palmer is best known for the bevy of leggy models that pouted and swayed their way through three of his chart-topping music videos. These black-clad bombshells not only cradled instruments and wore hot lipstick, they also lifted Palmer's easily digestible guitar rock to the peak of popularity with their on-screen renditions of "Addicted to Love," "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" and "Simply Irresistible." Testosterone-fuelled and shallow as these videos were, they did succeed in introducing the world to Palmer's unique blend of rock, soul, electronica and R&B after a decade of disappointments.
Born Alan Palmer in Bentley, England, Palmer is the son of a naval officer who never saw a movie or TV until age 12. With only music to keep him company, Palmer admired the rhythm and blues of Lena Horne and Nat King Cole at avery young age. A clean and sober three-piece-suit kinda guy, Palmer played in locally renowned British bands like Dada, Vinegar Joe and the Alan Bown Band in his 20s, but never embraced the excessive rock 'n' roll lifestyle. For this reason, Palmer happily pursued a tame solo career with Island Records, where he could enjoy great artistic freedom as well as a little peace and quiet. His 1974 debut, Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley, impressed critics and critics alone. Island stood by Palmer despite his commercial failings and allowed him to experiment with synthesizers and international rhythms, both of which made his next two albums musically compelling yet financially fruitless.
Palmer's first American hit came in the form of "Every Kinda People" fromDouble Fun and was followed by the even higher ranking "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)" from Secrets in 1979. Luck then knocked on Palmer's door in 1985, when John Taylor and Andy Taylor of Duran Duran asked him to join their side project band, Power Station. Two hit singles later, Palmer quit.
One year later "Addicted to Love" hit No. 1 with its smooth, understated and poppy, cool guitar. The album Riptide made Palmer a household name, but it was 1988's Heavy Nova that made him a star and an unlikely sex symbol. Thanks to those leggy brunettes, the videos for "Simply Irresistible" and "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" clung to the top of the charts all year, catapulting Palmer's synth-influenced pop to music award ceremonies and onto Pepsi commercials. His next two albums reverted to a more eclectic international sound and showcased Palmer's mellow baritone - MTV fans had trouble following the progression and dumped him like a washed up supermodel in a tight black mini skirt.
Palmer's latest album (and first studio recording in five years), Rhythm And Blues, was released in 1999.
Palmer died on 26 september 2003 in Paris.
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