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Singer Robert Palmer dies at 54
LONDON, England -- Rock singer Robert Palmer has died in Paris of a heart attack at the age of 54, his manager said. The British star, whose chart hits in the 1980s included "Addicted to Love," suffered the attack in the early hours of Friday morning, Mick Cater said. Palmer, who had lived in Switzerland for 16 years, was staying in the French capital with his partner, Mary Ambrose, after traveling from the United Kingdom where he had been recording a TV show. "I can't say anything else at this point, I'm just in shock," Cater told CNN. The singer was born in Batley, Yorkshire, in 1949, but spent the majority of his youth on the island of Malta. At the age of 19, Palmer returned to England where he sang with the Alan Bown Set and a soul group, Vinegar Joe, before beginning a solo career in 1974. He became known as much for slick videos as for his clever combination of rock, rhythm and blues, and reggae sounds with singles that also included "Simply Irresistible" and "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On." The "Addicted to Love" video, featuring the sharply dressed Palmer and miniskirted models, became one of MTV's most-played clips and sparked protests from some feminists. "I'm not going to attach inappropriate significance to it because at the time it meant nothing. It's just happened to become an iconic look," Palmer once said of the video. He formed the Power Station in 1985 with John Taylor and Andy Taylor from Duran Duran, scoring three U.S. hits, including "Communication" and "Get it On." Despite his chart success he shunned the rock 'n' roll lifestyle. "I loved the music, but the excesses of rock 'n' roll never really appealed to me at all," The Associated Press quoted him as saying. "I couldn't see the point of getting up in front of a lot of people when you weren't in control of your wits." Palmer was noted for his dress sense and respect for his fans. "I don't want to be heavy," he said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. "I can't think of another attitude to have towards an audience than a hopeful and a positive one. And if that includes such unfashionable things as sentimentality, well, I can afford it." Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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