One of rock’s most overlooked vocalists, Robert Palmer delivered his performances with such natural fluidity that listeners often missed both his technical command and his willingness to explore unexpected styles. Anchored in soul yet willing to chase new directions, he frequently stood ahead of prevailing trends or just beyond the center of popular attention. That middle ground described the records he cut during the mid-1970s, when he explored New Orleans funk alongside the Meters before briefly experimenting with reggae. His trajectory sharpened with the relaxed island groove of “Every Kinda People,” which supplied his initial U.S. success, while the driving arena-rock punch of “Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)” supplied the follow-up. After exploring new-wave textures on Clues, he teamed with John Taylor and Andy Taylor for the Duran Duran side project the Power Station, a partnership that restored him to the upper reaches of the charts and paved the way for the 1986 blockbuster Riptide and its signature single, “Addicted to Love.” Stylish, ironic videos—featuring the sharply dressed singer fronting a lineup of supermodels—turned Palmer into an MTV staple, a presence that lasted into the early 1990s until the channel’s preferences and his own parted ways. In the final decade of his life he aimed at a more mature listenership while still venturing into unfamiliar territory, whether through the classic-pop focus of Ridin’ High or the modern blues of his last album, Drive.
