Duke D'Mond | |
|---|---|
 D'Mond in 1964 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard Edward Palmer |
| Also known as | Duke D'Mond |
| Born | 25 February 1943 Dunstable, England |
| Died | 9 April 2009 (aged 66) Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, England |
| Genres | Pop, novelty |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1961-2005 |
| Formerly of | The Barron Knights |
Duke D'Mond (born Richard Edward Palmer, 25 February 1943 - 9 April 2009) was an English comic singer, who sang lead vocals for The Barron Knights.
D'Mond was born Richard Edward Palmer in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England on 25 February 1943. [1] After leaving school at the age of sixteen, he worked as an apprentice at a printing firm, owned and ran by his father. [1]
He joined The Barron Knights in 1961. Despite having no past experience with performing on stage, D'Mond's audition to join the band was stated to be successful. Originally a serious band, they took inspiration from The Four Preps, and soon changed to comedy.
The Barron Knights were spotted by Beatles manager Brian Epstein in 1963, and were asked to support the band at their Christmas shows in London. The group became one of few acts to tour with both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. [2] Under the stagename Duke D'Mond, they signed to Fontana Records, and released their first single, "Let's Face It" / "Never Miss Chris". [3] The bands big break came in 1964, with their song Call Up the Groups, a song with the basis of famous 60s pop and rock stars having to enlist in the army of navy. The track included parodies of songs by The Searchers, Freddie and the Dreamers, The Rolling Stones, The Bachelors, The Dave Clark Five, and The Beatles. After a recording a demo, the band was sceptical about weather or not the song would be released, as many of the acts they parodied denied permission for them to use their songs. Call Up the Groups was an instant smash hit, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. [4] [5]
Call Up the Groups was followed up with Pop Go the Workers, which included parodies from new artists, such as The Supremes, Sandie Shaw, and Val Doonican. Pop Go the Workers became a top-ten hit in the UK and was awarded a silver disc by Disc for sales of over 250,000 copies. [6] The third of their medley hits was Merry Gentle Pops, a song themed around Christmas. By the late 1960s, the Barron Knights were slowly fading out the public eye. In 1974, they toured with Petula Clark in South Africa. [7] In 1977, they signed on to Columbia Records, and with it, came a strain of hits which boosted the band back into the public eye again. A Taste of Aggro, which was a medley of parodies of Rivers of Babylon (Boney M.), The Smurf Song (Vader Abraham), and Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs (Brian and Michael) went to number three on the UK charts, and was followed with multiple appearances on Top of the Pops from 1977 to 1980, which included Live in Trouble, A Taste of Aggro, Food for Thought, and Christmas Presents, most of which were in the top 10 as some point. [8] [9] [10] Christmas Presents, released in 1980, became their last charting hit, peaking at No. 23. [11]
D'Mond continued to tour with the Knights into the 2000s, but retired in 2005 after suffering from a fall, [1] which resulted in a broken neck, and damaged spinal nerves. [12] [13]
Prior to his death, D'Mond was married to Pauline. He had a daughter called Jocaster from a previous relationship.
In 1985, he had an affair with Ruby James, a backing vocalist for Spandau Ballet. When their affair ended, he spitefully sent glamour photos he had of her taken to a magazine. James successfully sued D’Mond, describing Duke in court as, “An overgrown kid who thinks he’s God’s gift to women.” [13]
D'Mond died at 9pm on Thursday, 9 April 2009, aged 66 after suffering from Internal bleeding, which sent him into a coma, which led to him having a heart attack in Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. [1] [12] He is survived by his wife and daughter. [14] D'Mond had also been suffering from Pneumonia at the time of his death. [11]
The official website for the Barron Knights announced to their website: "We are very sad to have to tell you all that Duke passed away at 9pm last night Thursday 9th April. He had been very poorly for some time. Four years ago he had a very bad fall and broke his neck which also damaged the nerves conected to the spinal chord.In the last few months he had deteriated and a few days before his death he was rushed to the Ratcliffe Hospital in Oxford with internal bleeding then went into a coma before having a severe heart attack. All us Barron Knights are devestated losing a friend who was a member of the band for 46 years.He had a great singing voice and was very much a part of all our hit records and was great performer on stage. Our condolences go to Dear Pauline and Jocaster his wife and daughter who looked after Duke over the last few months." [12]
His funeral took place in his birthplace Dunstable on April 27 2009. [11] [15]
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