by Put Kramer Sue Palmer Sun Diego's Qaeen of Woogie rflhirty years in lhe mustc Sue's first professional I indrrt.y is a long time band was in Tobacco Road, for any performer, particular- a band she formed with well ly for artists and espe- known and bass cially for women blues per- player Preston Coleman. formers. For Sue Palmer, the Over the next 15 years, the "Queen of Boogie Woogie," band played regular gigs at it's been a star-studded blues the Belly Up Tavern in So- career with many rewards lano Beach. Of Coleman she and awards. The swing, blues says, "Working with Preston and boogie-woogie was like going to college to player has toured the world learn my craft. He was the and played music festivals real thing - a man who was throughout the U.S. and Eu- a fantastic performer and ar- rope as the pianist for blues ranger and was kind and gen- diva Candye Kane. But it's erous with us." her solo and band recording While fronting Tobacco as Sue Palmer and Her Mo- Road, Sue met Candye Kane tel Swing Orchestra that have and soon after the two be- generated the most awards. gan collaborating on music. Her fourth release, Sophisti- Later, Sue was invited to join cated Lady won an Interna- Kane's band as piano player tional Blues Challenge Award which led to world tours for "Best Self Produced CD" through the '90s playing club in 2008, her third release, dates and festivals in Canada, Live at Dizzy's won "Best Australia, France, Holland, Blues Album 200212003" the Netherlands and United and her solo piano album, States. Sue Palmer After Hours won blues club Croce's Bar and Later, her role models Sue was known, during "Best Blues Album 2010" Restaurant. included swinging blues and these years, for her memo- from the San Diego Music "They call me the "Queen boogie woogie recording rable get-up: a two foot high Awards. of Boogie Woogie" says Sue, artists Hadda Brooks, Julia beehive hairdo, retro shades The San Diego native speaking about her career. As Lee, and Camille Howard and piles of rings and brace- even had a day named for her far as the future, I'd like to along with Elvis Presley, Ray lets thatjangled as she played by the San Diego City Coun- take that title as far as I can." Charles, Count Basie and her lightening fast keyboard. cil:March 25th,2008 was of- Sue got started in music Duke Ellington. Their act was so popular, the ficially declared "Sue Palmer early. She was born into a After graduating high band averaged,250 dates per Day" for her many years of musical family which en- school, she became politi- year. While it was an exhila- cultural contributions play- couraged her to express her- cally active in the Women's rating experience for her as ing the city's festivals, clubs self through music. Her early Movement where she was a musician, it was also very and celebrations. Follow- role models were her musical able to showcase her talents draining so in 1999, Sue de- ing her most recent award in aunts: a saxophonist and pia- playing at local meeting and cided to leave the band. 2010, Sue received the "Jim no player and her mother who events. Playing in small ven- "It was hard to be away Croce Music Award" for ex- played percussion. Says Sue, ues allowed her to develop from friends and significant cellence and dedication to "It was kind of required to her own style and exposed others," she recall, "espe- music from the late recording participate musically; that's her to many other talented cially because we didn't have artist's widow, Ingrid Croce, what we did when we got to- performers who mentored her Internet and it was really ex- owner of San Diego's jazzl gether." along the way. pensive making phone calls. Eventually, I quit because I The show opened in January was just tired of being on the and runs until February 6, road so much." 201I at the Moxie Theater in Back in San Diego Sue San Diego. launched her own band in Sue has also performed 2000, "Sue Palmer and Her as part of the show 'oQueens Motel Swing Orchestra" and of Boogie Woogie" with over the past decade has Per- piano players/singers Lisa formed regularly at Croce's Otey, Dona Oxford and Wen- in San Diego as well as the dy Dewitt at Berkeley, CA's Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, Freight & Salvage and the the Glendale Kiwanis Jazz 2010 Ocean Beach Jazz Fes- Festival, the Mammolh Jazz tival. But the most special Festival, the Ocean Beach show was in 2002 with the Jazz Feslival and the Adams late, original Queen of Boo- Avenue Street Fair to re- gie Woogie. singer-songwrit- views. er-pianist Hadda Brooks who In addition, she has col- died later that year. Sue will, laborated with a number of again, join the Queens of recording artists. She's fea- Boogie Woogie for a show at tured on Tom Waits' com- Yoshi's in Oakland on April pilation, New Coat of Paint 25, 2011. (Manifesto Records, 2000), For the present, Sue en- Earl Thomas' The Elec- ioys her role as band leader tor Studio Sessions (2000); with Sue Palmer and Her Michele Lundeen's self Motel Swing Orchestra. produced, Song Inside Me The band's line up includes (2004), produced and con- lead singer Deejha Marie; tributed to Dayna Carroll's trombone player April West; CD Yesterday, TodaY, For- drummer Sharon Shufelt; t8U ever (2008), and Produced guitarist Steve Wilcox, sax kgrdrrrlblistXctr the late, award-winning player Jonny Viau and bass Crcirfrbinllfilt Harrison, with songwriter Janell Rock's CD, player Pete lsrTiotsk hr lll u lfor lt0t Performer. She's Sue on piano and accordion. Janell Rock, Xrdmnof It0d*lktohml{ also appeared on stage or re- In February, the band Per- Crll (}na or corded with Lou Ann Barton, forms in the series "Terminal d-{s6 ,lid$ss*ss *gjdgas *i{rui",ru hrry 0$l$ &ll$l LABS ir e 501{c}3 *on-proniH?i , Wal- Jazz" at San Diego AirPort's , Cpnrs .4nd Wsfir ltte Lns 4ngele,q Slrtes.frtctrfry ter Wolfman Washington and baggage section, in MaY, theY , to name a few. appear at Vista's Avo Theater writing as well as shows at Croce's. LABg {l}Pon Cllu** )arn *17 In addition to gtorr€ry' in- In June, Sue travels to EuroPe Hsst€tl ;!Y E]. 8lu{rs new music for her five, F€tlru*rY e(}th 2Cr. t' 1 St}rrl-?Prrr dependent releases, Sue has with Candye Kane to perform *f. f}hllllps Alefrousc - (62'6) e56-'l}4S3 16 continued to write and Per- at the Netherlands' United bY 601 s; Mrn*tts-i-*. M9. form with Candye Kane' Music charity event followed LAES 0P*n 3lu*s Jarn #18 Her latest role is as musical by club dates and festivals in sf$stad lry The oth€r Muler telerch Astft tsl* f zrrm-7Pm director for Kane's new bio- Europe. BIS Fl6h Gl*r * (A1A) t'r4-64'*? Tough- An active supPorter of 2CI3 graphical music show, 533af *" j*'"Tf 3 ed- she Gay Rights movement, est Girl Alive, for which the LABS CIPGn 6lu€t5 "iarn *t19 wrote "Highway of Tears," Sue has received two Nicky t"lc$t€d FY Cl}ld Crrrllfr:trt Gllrres one of the featured songs. Awards for "Outstanding En- Aprll 3rd eO1t. I tPrr-6Prn Ray's l>erl.nts$.n ll€ll - (F09) 6A5 -777& Based on Kane's life's ex- tertainer." t$g S" E St.#E S*n €rarnardlno' CA' S240l. periences, the show features For more information, music, multimedia and gor- please visit: www.suepalmer. &,{rt_s"rrr-Fee-"{tfd d-ssv,lsrlncf.a{S geous set design highlight- com. W*tah aur vidsas @ vw v- y alrhrhttfr,ffiflz bs{hl]{as ing Kane's colorful memoirs.