Stephen Palmer (AKA Mr. Palmer On Bass) was born and raised in San Diego California. His father worked in radio so he was always exposed to all genres of music. He also had the good fortune of being able to attended any stadium and arena concert that passed through. It was during this time that he picked up a guitar with the desire of becoming a “rock star”. But it was at an early Ramones show that he came to the realization that the raw energy and connection with the audience a smaller venue provided was the missing link to the dream. Inspired by Dee Dee Ramone, he ditched the guitar and bought a bass.

 

At 18, he moved to Los Angeles, joined a band and immersed himself into the vibrant live music club scene of the 80’s. It was around this time that he got a hold of an upright bass and began listening to early rockabilly records (and of course, the Stray Cats) and started to figure out how that dang thing worked. 

 

After a few years, he moved to the Bay Area and again, joined a band and followed the “post-punk” club scene of San Francisco and the East Bay. 

 

In the early 90’s, another move brought him to Seattle Washington where the Grunge movement was in full swing. The pattern continued. Join a band, go clubbing …. but this time, also started a family. 

 

In the late 90’s he joined forces with Justin Curtis, switched from electric to upright bass, quit his day job and worked as a full time musician gigging, going on small tours, recording and shooting videos. It was at this point that he became hooked on all things rockabilly. 

 

After 12 years in the Northwest, he craved better weather and the “fun in the sun” lifestyle Southern California offered. California proved too costly so he moved his family to Tybee Island Georgia. After a few years he realized there was a solid rockabilly scene in Savannah (car clubs, pin-ups, burlesque troupes), but there was no band to tie it all together. He then formed Crazy Man Crazy. The band had success regionally and shared the stage with some of the greats including Dick Dale, Nashville Pussy, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and more. Crazy Man Crazy even had the amazing opportunity to play on the Car Show Stage and Viva Las Vegas 2018 with Duane Eddy, Jerry Lee Lewis and The Stray Cats. The band disbanded shorty after that experience. 

 

Mr. Palmer switched gears away from band life and started a weekly live radio show (Mr Palmer’s Rockabilly Radio Show). 

 

At some point in 2019, he answered an ad posted by a Charleston based frontman (Jared Petteys) in need of a bass player and the two kept in touch through the pandemic years.

 

In April of 2021, Mr. Palmer jammed with Jared at a venue in Savannah and they decided to continue playing together. In October of 2021, Mr. Palmer (now a bachelor empty-nester) packed up his basses and moved to Charleston South Carolina to become a Headliner full time.