Michael Palmer

Born in 1964 in Maxfield Park, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, Palmer took his earliest cues from next-door neighbor Leroy Smart when he launched his vocal career on the Echo Tone Hi Fi Sound. That system showcased Big John and Flux alongside owner General Echo, all three of whom lost their lives in a 1980 shooting in Kingston. An early session with producer Oswald Thomas yielded the debut single “Mr Landlord,” which made little impact; following the sound system’s collapse, Palmer kept a low profile for several years. By 1983 he resumed studio work alongside Jah Thomas—already known for his successes with Triston Palma—resulting in the tracks “Ghetto Dance,” shared with Jim Brown, and “Different Love.” Further recordings soon appeared under a range of other producers, among them King Jammy, Sugar Minott and Joseph “Joe Joe” Hookim. His profile rose noticeably when Aswad, while working in Jamaica, enlisted his voice for the single “Me Nah Run.” By the middle of the decade his standing was secure: “Lickshot” topped the Jamaican charts, and his set at Reggae Sunsplash stood out as a festival highlight. A steady stream of albums appeared afterward, with some producers who lacked sufficient material issuing combination LPs instead. The resulting oversupply of product cooled public interest, ushering in a quieter period. Palmer then tried his hand at production and scored an immediate hit with Neville Brown’s “Haul And Pull Up.” Early in the 1990s he re-emerged with the pointed single “Juggling,” which censured licentious behavior, as well as the contrasting track “Everyone Makes Love.”