# Robert Palmer

> English musician (1949–2003)

**Wikidata**: [Q325412](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q325412)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Palmer)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/robert-palmer

## Summary

Robert Palmer was an English musician and singer-songwriter known for his work in rock music. Active from 1964 until his passing in 2003, he was a member of the American-British musical supergroup The Power Station and was associated with the British-Jamaican record label Island Records. He is remembered as a distinctive voice in rock and pop who also wrote and composed his own material.

## Biography

- **Born:** 1949
- **Died:** 2003
- **Nationality:** English (United Kingdom)
- **Also known as:** Alan Palmer
- **Known for:** Songwriting, composing, and singing his own songs as a rock musician; membership in The Power Station
- **Field(s):** Rock music
- **Work period:** Began in 1964
- **Associated acts:** The Power Station (American-British rock supergroup, formed 1984)
- **Record label:** Island Records (British-Jamaican label, founded July 4, 1959)
- **Website:** http://robertpalmer.com

## Contributions

Robert Palmer's career in rock music spanned nearly four decades, beginning in 1964. As a singer-songwriter, he both composed and performed his own material. He was a member of **The Power Station**, an American-British musical supergroup and rock band that formed in 1984. His recording work was associated with **Island Records**, a British-Jamaican record label. Palmer's professional identity encompassed the roles of musician, singer, songwriter, and composer, placing him within the rock music genre that emerged in the late 1940s and became one of the most popular music genres worldwide.

## FAQs

**What kind of music did Robert Palmer make?**
Robert Palmer was a rock musician and singer-songwriter, meaning he wrote, composed, and performed his own songs within the rock music genre.

**Was Robert Palmer part of any bands?**
Yes, he was a member of The Power Station, an American-British musical supergroup and rock band that was formed in 1984.

**What record label was Robert Palmer associated with?**
Palmer was associated with Island Records, a British-Jamaican record label that was founded on July 4, 1959.

**How long was Robert Palmer active as a musician?**
His professional work period began in 1964 and continued until his death in 2003, covering a span of roughly 39 years.

**Did Robert Palmer have any alternate names?**
He was also known by the alias Alan Palmer.

## Why They Matter

Robert Palmer holds significance as an English musician who sustained a career in rock music across nearly four decades. His dual role as both performer and songwriter—composing and singing his own material—distinguished him within the genre. His involvement with The Power Station connected him to a transatlantic rock project that bridged American and British musical traditions. Through his association with Island Records, a label with deep roots in both British and Jamaican music culture, Palmer was positioned at an intersection of rock and broader musical influences. His career, spanning from the British rock explosion of the 1960s through the MTV era of the 1980s and beyond, reflects the evolution of popular rock music itself.

## Notable For

- English musician and singer-songwriter with a career spanning 1964–2003
- Member of The Power Station, an American-British musical supergroup formed in 1984
- Associated with Island Records, the historic British-Jamaican record label
- Active participant in the rock music genre
- Composed, wrote, and sang his own songs
- Also known by the alias Alan Palmer

## Body

### Early Life and Background

Robert Palmer was born in 1949 in the United Kingdom. He is classified as English by nationality and is also known to have had connections to the United States over the course of his career.

### Career Beginnings

Palmer's professional work period as a musician began in **1964**, placing his early career in the era of the British Invasion and the broader expansion of rock music as a dominant popular genre. Rock music itself had emerged as a defined genre around 1948, meaning Palmer entered the scene during its second wave of growth and international popularization.

### Musical Identity

Palmer occupied multiple roles within music. He is described as a **musician**—defined as a person who composes, conducts, or performs music—as well as a **singer-songwriter**, specifically denoting a musician who writes, composes, and sings their own songs. His primary genre was **rock music**.

### The Power Station

In **1984**, Palmer became associated with **The Power Station**, an American-British musical supergroup described as a rock band. The supergroup designation indicates that its members were already established artists who came together to form a new project. The band's dual American-British identity reflected the transatlantic nature of the rock music scene in the 1980s.

### Record Label: Island Records

Palmer's work was connected to **Island Records**, a British-Jamaican record label founded on **July 4, 1959**. Island Records is notable for its cross-cultural origins, bridging British and Jamaican music traditions. The label has been historically significant in bringing Jamaican and Caribbean music to international audiences, as well as signing prominent rock and pop artists.

### Legacy

Robert Palmer's career concluded with his passing in **2003**. His official website remains at robertpalmer.com. With 31 sitelink connections across knowledge platforms, Palmer's presence in music reference materials reflects his enduring recognition. His life spanned from 1949 to 2003, covering a transformative period in British and global rock music.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Integrated Authority File
3. LIBRIS. 2011
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. MusicBrainz
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. Discogs
8. SNAC
9. Find a Grave
10. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. BBC Things
13. ISWC Network
14. Quora
15. Carnegie Hall linked open data
16. Regional Database of the Central Bohemian Research Library in Kladno