Earl Palmer
Member - NETunes' Integrity Committee
Member - NETunes' Talent Committee
Legendary R&B drummer Earl Palmer serves as a Member of NETunes' Talent and Integrity Committees.
The Integrity Committee advises NETunes' Board of Directors on all aspects of NETunes philosophy, vision, direction and execution. The Talent Committee evaluates and approves all new NETunes affiliated artists, labels and releases.
According to rock ‘n’ roll legend Little Richard, New Orleans native Earl Palmer is “probably the greatest session drummer of all time.”
Palmer grew up in Le Tremé, an area near the French Quarter. His mother was a vaudevillian and had little Earl learning rhythmic patterns as a tap dancer at age four.
He was hired by bandleader Dave Bartholomew in 1947 and recorded with Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Smiley Lewis and other New Orleans artists at Cosimo Matassa’s J&M Studio. His many landmark recordings from this era includeLittle Richard's Tutti Frutti, Smiley Lewis's I Hear You Knockin', Lloyd Price's Lawdy Miss Clawdy and Fats Domino's The Fat Man.
Palmer moved to Los Angeles in 1957 where he served for a time as an A&R executive with Aladdin Records and played on literally thousands of rock, Jazz, R&B and soundtrack sessions. He was a favorite of both Motown and producer Phil Spector and can be heard on dozens of television and motion picture themes including Batman, Mission: Impossible and the Looney Tunes scores. His Los Angeles recordings of note include Ritchie Valens's La Bamba, Eddie Cochran's Summertime Blues, The Righteous Brothers' You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' and Tina Turner's River Deep Mountain High.
Earl Palmer’s numerous session credits include Doris Day, Dizzy Gillespie, Dinah Washington, Count Basie, Sarah Vaughnan, Herb Alpert, Andy Williams, James, Brown, Buck Owens, The Byrds, Sonny & Cher, Phil Ochs, The Monkees, Ike & Tina Turner, The Beach Boys, B.B. King, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Waylon Jennings, Ray Charles, Bobby Darin, Willie Nelson, Vic Damone, Tom Waits, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Ritchie Valens, Eddie Cochran, Sam Cooke, Duane Eddy, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Otis, Neil Young, Elvis Costello and Frank Sinatra. He is a member of The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
