Music Flashback: Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer was a Grammy Award winning English Singer and Songwriter.

When I was younger, and if I somehow could be a famous singer, I would have wanted Steve Perry’s voice, and would have wanted to be as cool as Robert Palmer.

This guy had style!

Palmer released his first solo album in 1974.

Much of his solo music featured elements of Rock, Jazz, Reggae, and Blues.

He charted his first top-40 hit here in the US in 1978 with “Every kind of People“.

In 1985 he joined with Duran Duran members Andy Taylor and John Taylor, and CHIC member Tony Thompson, to form the group “Power Station“.

He had considerable solo success in the mid and late 1980′s with hits such as “Addicted to Love” and “Simply Irresistible“, which both featured iconic music videos which featured Palmer performing in front of a backing “band” made up of heavily made-up, identically-dressed models posing as band members.

His hits have included:

Every kind of People
Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)
Addicted to Love
Hyperactive
I didn’t mean to turn you on
Simply Irresistible
Early in the Morning
Mercy Mercy Me/I want you
Some Like it Hot (Power Station)
Bang a Gong, Get it on (Power Station)
Communication (Power Station)

“Addicted to Love” would be his only #1 hit here in the US.

“Simply Irresistible” would top out at #2 on the Billboard Charts.

In 1987, he won a Grammy Award for “Best Male Rock Performance” for “Addicted to Love“. He won a second Grammy Award for “Simply Irresistible“.

Robert Palmer released his last solo album in 2003.

He died of a heart attack later that same year at the age of 54.