I was dreading this particular news, and on Saturday I got it. Session drummer Earl Palmer, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who was featured on hits like Ike and Tina Turner’s “River Deep, Mountain High” and the Righteous Brothers‘ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” is gone.
Though Earl was a legend in the rock-n-roll world, I knew Earl in the jazz world. Earl actually got me my first gig on the jazz circuit, at the M Club in Downtown LA, and that led to all those years at the Money Tree. I sat in with him so many times - he would always invite me up to the "bandstand" to sing a few tunes, wherever he was playing -- Charley O's, The M Club, Rick's in Santa Monica, and of course The Money Tree. Julia Holland and I did a fabulous gig with him, George Gaffney, and Ernie McDaniels for a branch of the Elks Club one year. Earl got a huge kick out of our dancing and singing.
I met Earl at the New Orleans airport in 1998, when Julia, Leni and I were there for the annual Jazzfest. Leni spotted the dapper suited gentleman on the plane as soon as we left LA. She immediately approached him, saying she was a huge fan. When he landed, she introduced us to him, and that was the beginning of a wonderful friendship among all of us. We hung out with him in New Orleans, we partied together, and we partied again at the airport in New Orleans before we headed back to LA. He loved the attention, and he also loved the fact that Julia and I were singers. He wanted to help us out when we got back to LA.
Earl was very opinionated. The week I met him, his autobiography had just come out (written with Tony Sherman), and he was very unhappy with it. I can't remember exactly why, but he was very vocal about it. (Nevertheless, he gave me a signed copy.)
He also couldn't stand my boyfriend at the time, and he never lost an opportunity to tell me that, every time he saw me. "You are WAY too good for him," he said. He was relieved when we broke up, though I sensed he didn't truly believe me when I told him.
When I went to Donna's jam session in New Orleans a few years later, Earl instructed me to mention his name. I did, and sure enough they asked me to sing.
Earl was the best drummer. The absolute best. Tasty fills, solid beat, and he knew exactly how to accompany a singer. When he played with his trio and I had the chance to sit in with them, it always felt so "right" musically. I remember his stressing the importance of "getting in" and "getting out" of the song. Everything else in the middle would take care of itself. That valuable tip has saved me on countless gigs.
Did I mention he was an impeccable dresser? I never once saw him without a dark suit.
I know Earl was a legend of rock'n'roll. But I always saw Earl as the epitome of elegance and the essence of jazz.
