| David Palmer | |
| Birth Place: | Watchung, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Instrument: | Vocals |
| Genre: | Pop rock, jazz rock |
| Occupation: | Musician, photographer |
| Years Active: | 1964–2002 (musician) 2002–present (photographer) |
David Palmer is an American vocalist, songwriter and photographer best known as a former member of Steely Dan and as the lyricist of the Carole King #2 hit "Jazzman".
Palmer was raised in the New Jersey communities of Warren Township and Watchung[1] and attended Watchung Hills Regional High School.[2] His first band was the Myddle Class, formed in 1964 under the initial name of the King Bees while its members were still in high school.[3] The band performed at clubs such as the Night Owl in Greenwich Village, and released several 45s on the Tomorrow record label before disbanding in 1969. Palmer next formed the Quinaimes Band with several Myddle Class members, and they recorded an album for Elektra Records before disbanding shortly thereafter.
At the insistence of ABC Records executives, Palmer joined Steely Dan in an early incarnation in 1972.[4] He sang lead on two tracks on their debut album Can't Buy a Thrill, "Dirty Work" and "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)", as well as doubling parts of Donald Fagen's vocals on "Reelin' in the Years", "Only a Fool Would Say That" and "Change of the Guard" in order to reach the high notes.[5] He also sang lead on most of Steely Dan's songs when performed live during their early concerts because of Fagen's early-career stage fright before audiences.[6] Fagen eventually took lead vocals and Palmer left the band, although Palmer did contribute backing vocals on the band's subsequent release, Countdown to Ecstasy.
In 2014, Palmer sued the Steely Dan corporation for unpaid digital royalties, and Palmer received a settlement. He has claimed that he has not been paid royalties for online streaming audio, saying: "I did not want their money, I wanted my money"[7]
After Steely Dan, Palmer worked with a number of songwriters, including Carole King in the composition of "Jazzman". He later formed the band Wha-Koo with Danny Douma. Wha-Koo released three albums, The Big Wha-Koo in 1977, Berkshire in 1978 and Fragile Line in 1979.[8] He also contributed the song "Silhouette" to the 1985 film Teen Wolf.
In 1984, Palmer published a novel "Emergence," based on two science fiction short stories that had been published in Analogand, earned nominations for Hugo awards.[9]
Since 2002, Palmer has been a digital photographer, specializing in landscapes, portraits and fine-art images.
He resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.