Michael Palmer (musician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Palmer als known as Palma Dog, is a Jamaica
n reggae
musician who released several albums in the 1980s.
in 1960, Palmer began his career performing with sound systems such as Stereophonic Sound with General Echo
in the late 1970s, taking inspiration from the success of his neighbour Leroy Smart
. The shooting death of Echo and Stereophonic's owner Big John in 1980 was a blow to Palmer's career. His debut single, "Mr Landlord", recorded for producer Oswald Thomas was not successful, and it was not until a couple of years later when he found success with "Smoke the Weed", recorded at Channel One
, and with producer Jah Thomas
on tracks such as "Ghetto Dance" and "Different Love". He went on to work with a variety of producers including George Phang
, Sugar Minott
, Prince Jammy, and Joseph Hoo Kim
, and enjoyed a number one single in Jamaica in 1984 with "Lick Shot". He also performed at the Reggae Sunsplash
festival that year. His recordings led to a series of mid-1980s albums, including split albums with Frankie Jones
, Frankie Paul
, Johnny Osbourne
, and Kelly Ranks.
Palmer moved into production, achieving success with Neville Brown's "Haul and Pull Up", and returned to recording himself in the early 1990s, with singles such as "Juggling" and "Everyone Makes Love".
Compilations:
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
musician who released several albums in the 1980s.
Biography
Born in the Maxfield Park area of KingstonKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
in 1960, Palmer began his career performing with sound systems such as Stereophonic Sound with General Echo
General Echo
General Echo aka Ranking Slackness, was one of the first reggae deejays to move away from 'cultural' lyrics towards 'slackness' ....
in the late 1970s, taking inspiration from the success of his neighbour Leroy Smart
Leroy Smart
-Biography:Smart was born in 1952 and orphaned aged 2. He was raised at Maxfield Park Children's Home and educated at Alpha Boys School, where he studied singing, drums and dancing....
. The shooting death of Echo and Stereophonic's owner Big John in 1980 was a blow to Palmer's career. His debut single, "Mr Landlord", recorded for producer Oswald Thomas was not successful, and it was not until a couple of years later when he found success with "Smoke the Weed", recorded at Channel One
Channel One Studios
Channel One is a recording studio in Maxfield Avenue, West Kingston, Jamaica. The studio was built by the Hoo Kim brothers in 1972, and has had a profound influence on the development of reggae music....
, and with producer Jah Thomas
Jah Thomas
Nkrumah "Jah" Thomas is a reggae deejay and record producer who first came to prominence in the 1970s, later setting up his own Midnight Rock and Nura labels.-Biography:...
on tracks such as "Ghetto Dance" and "Different Love". He went on to work with a variety of producers including George Phang
George Phang
George Phang is a reggae producer born in the 1950s in south Saint Andrew, Kingston, Jamaica where still resides today.Phang started his reggae label Powerhouse in the early 1980s. His first hits were Little John's "True Confessions" and "Roots Girl", both released in 1983...
, Sugar Minott
Sugar Minott
Lincoln Barrington "Sugar" Minott was a Jamaican reggae singer, producer and sound-system operator.-Biography:...
, Prince Jammy, and Joseph Hoo Kim
Joseph Hoo Kim
-Career:Shortly after the Jamaican government banned gaming machines in the early 1970s, Joe Joe Hookim and his brother Ernest, abandoned their jobs as machine operators, and jumped into the music business. By 1973, the Hookims had opened their own studio, Channel One, with Joe Joe as its hands-on...
, and enjoyed a number one single in Jamaica in 1984 with "Lick Shot". He also performed at the Reggae Sunsplash
Reggae Sunsplash
Reggae Sunsplash is a reggae music festival first staged in 1978 in the northern part of Jamaica. In 1985 it expanded with the addition of an international touring festival...
festival that year. His recordings led to a series of mid-1980s albums, including split albums with Frankie Jones
Frankie Jones
Frankie Jones, also known as Jah Frankie Jones, is a Jamaican reggae singer best known for his recordings of the late 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:Jones was born in the Greenwich Farm area of Kingston...
, Frankie Paul
Frankie Paul
Paul Blake , better known as Frankie Paul, is one of Jamaica's best-loved and popular dancehall reggae artists. Born blind, he has been dubbed by some 'The Jamaican Stevie Wonder'.-Biography:...
, Johnny Osbourne
Johnny Osbourne
Johnny Osbourne is a popular Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer, who rose to success in the late 1970s and mid 1980s. His album Truths and Rights was a notable roots reggae success, and featured "Jah Promise" and the album's title track, "Truths and Rights"...
, and Kelly Ranks.
Palmer moved into production, achieving success with Neville Brown's "Haul and Pull Up", and returned to recording himself in the early 1990s, with singles such as "Juggling" and "Everyone Makes Love".
Discography
- Lickshot (1982), Power House
- Star Performer (1984), Tonos
- Pull It Up Now (1985), GreensleevesGreensleeves RecordsGreensleeves Records & Publishing is a record label specialising in dancehall and reggae music. The company was founded by Chris Cracknell and Chris Sedgwick and started as a small record store in West Ealing, London, in November 1975 and is based in Britain....
- Angella (1984), Vista Sounds
- Showdown vol. 4 (1984), Hitbound/Empire - with Frankie JonesFrankie JonesFrankie Jones, also known as Jah Frankie Jones, is a Jamaican reggae singer best known for his recordings of the late 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:Jones was born in the Greenwich Farm area of Kingston...
- Double Trouble (1985), Greensleeves - with Frankie PaulFrankie PaulPaul Blake , better known as Frankie Paul, is one of Jamaica's best-loved and popular dancehall reggae artists. Born blind, he has been dubbed by some 'The Jamaican Stevie Wonder'.-Biography:...
- Ghetto Living (1985), Bebo's
- I'm So Attractive (1985), Jammy's
- Sweet Daddy (1985), Black Scorpio
- We Rule (1985), Power House
- Michael Palmer Meets Kelly Ranks at Channel One (1985), Dancefloor
- Wicked (1985), Vibes & Vibes - with Johnny OsbourneJohnny OsbourneJohnny Osbourne is a popular Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer, who rose to success in the late 1970s and mid 1980s. His album Truths and Rights was a notable roots reggae success, and featured "Jah Promise" and the album's title track, "Truths and Rights"...
- Showcase - I'm Still Dancing (198?), Midnight Rock
- Joint Favourites (1986), Greensleeves - with Half Pint
Compilations:
- Triston Palma Meets Michael Palmer, Midnight Rock - with Triston PalmerTriston PalmerTriston Palmer aka Triston or Tristan Palma is a reggae singer/deejay active since the mid-1970s.-Biography:...