David Palmer (vocalist)
Encyclopedia
David Palmer is an American
vocalist and songwriter
, most noted for his lead vocals on the Steely Dan
song "Dirty Work" and as lyricist of the Carole King
#2 hit, "Jazzman". Palmer was born and raised in Warren Township
, Watchung, New Jersey
.
Palmer's first band was the Quinames Band, which recorded an album for Elektra Records
before disbanding. He also briefly sang for 60's group The Myddle Class, based in Manhattan's
West Village.
David Palmer sang lead on two of the tracks ("Dirty Work" and "Brooklyn [Owes the Charmer]") on Can't Buy A Thrill
, Steely Dan's first album, at the insistence of ABC Records
executives (and lead on all of Steely Dan's songs when performed live in their early concerts – as a result of Donald Fagen's stage fright
), but was relegated to backing vocals on their subsequent release, Countdown to Ecstasy
. Donald Fagen
eventually took over as lead vocalist, and Palmer left the band.
After his exit from Steely Dan, Palmer went on to work with Tony Nuccio, as a songwriter, and he later worked with Wha-Koo
. He also contributed the song "Silhouette" to the 1985 film Teen Wolf
. The song plays during the house party sequence where Scott and Boof participate in Styles' "games."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vocalist and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, most noted for his lead vocals on the Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
song "Dirty Work" and as lyricist of the Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
#2 hit, "Jazzman". Palmer was born and raised in Warren Township
Warren Township, New Jersey
Warren Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 15,311....
, Watchung, New Jersey
Watchung, New Jersey
Watchung is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,801.Watchung was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 23, 1826, from portions of North Plainfield Township based on the results...
.
Palmer's first band was the Quinames Band, which recorded an album for Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
before disbanding. He also briefly sang for 60's group The Myddle Class, based in Manhattan's
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
West Village.
David Palmer sang lead on two of the tracks ("Dirty Work" and "Brooklyn [Owes the Charmer]") on Can't Buy A Thrill
Can't Buy a Thrill
Can't Buy a Thrill is the first album by Steely Dan. Originally released in 1972, the album was a huge success. It went gold, and then platinum, peaking at #17 on the charts. In 2003, the album was ranked number 238 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time...
, Steely Dan's first album, at the insistence of ABC Records
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
executives (and lead on all of Steely Dan's songs when performed live in their early concerts – as a result of Donald Fagen's stage fright
Stage fright
Stage fright or performance anxiety is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia which may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, whether actually or potentially . In the context of public speaking, this fear is termed glossophobia, one of the most common...
), but was relegated to backing vocals on their subsequent release, Countdown to Ecstasy
Countdown to Ecstasy
Countdown to Ecstasy is the second album by rock group Steely Dan, released in July 1973. The album was written and recorded in rushed sessions between live concerts and produced two Billboard Hot 100 hits, "Show Biz Kids" and "My Old School".-History:...
. Donald Fagen
Donald Fagen
Donald Jay Fagen is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the co-founder, lead singer, and the principal songwriter of the rock band Steely Dan ....
eventually took over as lead vocalist, and Palmer left the band.
After his exit from Steely Dan, Palmer went on to work with Tony Nuccio, as a songwriter, and he later worked with Wha-Koo
Wha-Koo
Wha-Koo was an American rock band best known for their 1978 single, "You're Such a Fabulous Dancer", an international hit from their critically acclaimed album, "Berkshire".-History:...
. He also contributed the song "Silhouette" to the 1985 film Teen Wolf
Teen Wolf
Teen Wolf is a 1985 American fantasy comedy film released by Atlantic Releasing Corporation starring Michael J. Fox as Scott Howard, a high school student who discovers that his family has an unusual pedigree when he finds himself transforming into a werewolf...
. The song plays during the house party sequence where Scott and Boof participate in Styles' "games."