(April 2nd 1887 - December 22nd 1963)

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1887 Roy Palmer began his career playing the guitar in "Roseal's Orchestra" in or around 1906. As he progressed on the local music scene he switched to trumpet for a time before eventually settling on the trombone as his principal instrument. Around that time he performed with bands led by Richard M. Johnes Willie Hightower, Wellman Braud, and Sugar Johnnie among others. In 1917 Roy relocated to Chicago where he played in Lawrence Duhe's band but left after King Oliver took over the assembly. In addition to working with many forgotten groups including that of cornetist Tig Chambers, Roy Palmer would also appear on record with bands led by Jelly Roll Morton (1924), Johnny Dodds (1927) and Richard M. Jones (1929).

All that aside Roy gained the most fame from records he produced as a member of the "State Street Ramblers" and "Memphis Nighthawks" (aka the "Alabama Rascals") in 1931 and '32. In 1936 he would cut his final sides with the "Chicago Rhythm Kings" after which he retired from performing to operate a laundry business and teach trumpet, trombone, and music theory from his Chicago home.