Reese Palmer
DOB Unknown – October 26, 2011
Reese Palmer was an American soul singer who, during the mid 1950s, belonged to a singing group, the D.C. Tones which also counted among its members, Marvin Gaye and Sondra Lattisaw (mother of Stacy Lattisaw). Gaye soon left the group to join the US Air Force, but upon his return in 1957, he reunited with Palmer to form the Marquees. Shortly thereafter, the group was discovered by Bo Diddley while they were performing at a local club. Diddley signed them to Okeh Records for whom they recorded the moderately successful “Wyatt Earp” and “Hey Little Schoolgirl.” In 1958, the Marquees were hired by Harvey Fuqua to serve as his backing group in the New Moonglows after his original singers quit. As part of the New Moonglows, Reese sang on records by the likes of Chuck Berry (“Almost Grown” and “Back In The U.S.A.”) and Etta James. After leaving the New Moonglows in 1960, Reese went on to sing with the Revlons and the Orioles. In 2001, he resurrected the Marquees with new members. On October 26, 2011, Reese Palmer passed away following a battle with prostate cancer and bladder cancer. He was 73.