Biography
Poli Palmer was a key player in the unique sound of British rockers Family while he was with them for five albums. John Michael Palmer (nicknamed Poli) was a drummer who picked up vibraphone along the way. He got his start playing in the proto-Traffic groups the Hellions and Deep Feeling, which were Midland's bands led by Dave Mason and Jim Capaldi. He then joined psych-legends Blossom Toes for one year and three singles, and played in Eclection for a short time before being asked to replace his old friend Jim King in Family, even though King was a saxophonist and Palmer played everything but saxophone. His 1970-1972 stint in Family led to their distinctive sound with his wah-wah piano and fuzz- and synth-driven vibes. After leaving Family he quietly went into production and session contributions, and an attempt to form a band with Ric Grech and Mitch Mitchell never panned out. In 1974, Palmer scored a rock-based opera called +Hero for the Sydney Opera House. Through the 1980s he toured with Family-singer Roger Chapman for his solo projects. While Palmer was in Germany, he was approached by the head of Erdenklang, a "computer-acoustic music" label, to record a solo album. Human Error was released in 1985, and Palmer declined the offer of a second album. He continues to play pubs in the London-based band Chuck Farley, featuring Steve Simpson, Pat Crumley, Peter Stroud, and Sam Kelly. ~ Patrick Little, Rovi



 
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Former Family multi-instrumentalist John 'Poli' Palmer has died, aged 82
In Memoriam JOHN "POLI" PALMER (Musician For Family)
In Memoriam JULY 22, 2025 (Ozzy Osbourne, John 'Poli' Palmer, George Kooymans, Chuck Mangione)
Джону Палмеру 82 / John "Poli" Palmer is 82 #family
Family - Anyway 1970 IMO Poli Mix
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