Barry Palmer (musician)

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Barry Palmer is an Australian musician, songwriter and record producer based in Melbourne. He began playing alongside his brother Craig Palmer and bluesman Chris Wilson in popular R 'n B band The Sole Twisters. He came to prominence as guitarist and songwriter for indie darlings, Harem Scarem and Crown of Thorns, later joining one of Australia's truly iconic bands Hunters & Collectors in 1989.

In 2005 he was the subject of a documentary series "The Hit Game" on ABC television, which showed him producing and developing four unsigned artists: Deepface who were later signed to Fly Records (a division of JJJ); Belinda-Lee Reid (ex-Lash) who was later signed to a substantial deal; Vanessa Morefea who later signed to Instant Karma in the UK; and finally the Wolfgramm sisters, who have toured with Jet and the Countdown series.

Palmer toured the globe and Australia for many years with Hunters & Collectors, the band selling over one million albums in their home territory and along the way writing and performing songs that have become a part of the Australian musical and cultural landscape. In recognition of their status within the Australian music community and their contribution to Australian music, 2005 saw Hunters & Collectors inaugurated into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Whilst still in Hunters & Collectors, Palmer formed Deadstar with Caroline Kennedy — releasing three albums to great critical acclaim and radio success. From their first indie hits, such as "Going Down" and "Don't It Get You Down", to later pop beauties like "Deeperwater" and "Run Baby Run", the band toured Australia and the UK until disbanding in 2001.

During this time Palmer wrote and sometimes produced songs with many other artists — "Cry" with The Mavis's (gold sales and APRA most performed song of the year), "Rip It Up" with 28 Days (gold), "Take Me Away" with Lash (lead track for U.S. movie Freaky Friday with the soundtrack selling in excess of 500,000), "Love Comes Easy" with Vika and Linda (first single from Princess Tabu), "Home Again" and many others with old songwriting partner Mark Seymour (produced first solo album, King Without A Clue) and a swag of other songs with artists as diverse as Dan Brodie (producer, Beautiful Crimes, EMI), Tim Henwood (producer/writer), Shihad, The Fauves, Amiel ("Tonight", 2nd single from last album), Lisa Miller, The D4 (writing and producing) and New Zealander Carly Binding (Mushroom/Warner).

Palmer continues to write and record, concentrating particularly on the artists signed to his production company, Gigantically Small.

2006 saw the release of Dirty Days for Jaed (The Devil's Music/Instant Karma, produced and arranged by Palmer), garnering rave reviews from the UK press. They are currently recording a new album with Palmer at the helm again.

Deepface (Fly Music) placed the highest Australian dance song on the ARIA dance charts for four months with "Been Good" (co-written by Palmer, C. Kennedy and A. Klippel) and was nominated for an ARIA award for Best Dance Release. The release of their album Feel The Love saw the trio debuting in the Billboard U.S Dance Charts top 50.

Missing Hours (originally signed by Palmer, later sold to Sony) produced by Palmer and is scheduled for release in April 2008.

The Coalition OF The Young, produced by Palmer and signed to Gigantically Small are in the studio recording their first album.

Palmer is currently working with new artists Dash and Will licenced through Universal due for release in 2008 and has recently finished and a solo album for Jimmy Christmas of The D4 with his new band Luger Boa (Warner Music).

Matt Walters, the most recent signing, has just completed his first EP due for release in April/May.