The Melodic Foundations of a Global Soul Robert Palmer’s journey began not in the recording studios of London, but amidst the salt-sprayed air of a naval base in Malta. As a child of a naval intelligence officer, his ears were tuned to the transatlantic frequencies of the American Services Network, where the velvet tones of Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, and Nat King Cole drifted through the Mediterranean night. These early echoes planted the seeds of a profound musical curiosity, a lifelong devotion to the diverse textures of soul, jazz, and blues that would later define his artistry. This formative…