Known world wide as the Queen of Boogie Woogie, Sue Palmer has been a presence on the live music scene in San Diego and the world for over 30 years. She was inducted into the San Diego Music Hall of Fame in 2018, had a day named after her by the city in 2008, and won numerous San Diego Music Awards for her bands and albums. She has recorded over 12 albums under her own name, securing an international award from The International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis for Best Self Produced Album (Sophisticated Ladies). She was the beehive wearing music director and longtime pianist for blues diva Candye Kane, through the 90s, appearing on many of her albums, touring world wide (France, Germany, England, The Czech Republic, Turkey, South Africa, Australia, and more) as well as all over the US and parts of Canada. Sue has also toured Switzerland, Russia, The Netherlands, and Argentina under her own name. Her current Motel Swing Orchestra won the San Diego Music Award for Best Local Recording in 2021 for EP/Vinyl Recording "Movin' Along," and have now released a new 45 vinyl album called "Looking for a Parking Place," featuring 2 original songs, and also a video of the same name. She had a radio show for 3 years on San Diego's local Jazz station KSDS 88.3FM, hosts a podcast called "The Motel Swing Happy Hour," occasionally spins vinyl shows in local clubs (Parttime Lover, Til Two, The Lafayette Hotel), and now writes a column called "Sue's Spotlight: Women in Jazz & Blues" for the San Diego Troubadour, San Diego's music magazine. According to Claudia Russell, DJ Extraordinaire on KSDS 88.3FM, "When her heavily jeweled hands hit the 88s, you're in for a ride!" WATCH OUT: YOU may become a slave to the dance floor!! And, at the end of 2023, the San Diego Union Tribune chose "Eight to the Barre," a show combining Sue's Motel Swing Orchestra and the San Diego Ballet, as one of the top Dance Shows of the year! Sue's band: Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra, will be celebrating its 25th year this year!!

Candye Kane and Sue

Candye Kane and the Swingin' Armadillos at the Chesterfield Cafe in Paris, 1995... rare footage from a small club just off the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, just found in the home collection of Thomas Yearsley, featuring Candye Kane, Steve Wilcox on guitar, Sue Palmer on piano, Greg Willis on bass, Steve Geller on drums, with an introduction by Patricia Journo. Video by Sharon Shufelt.

Hadda Brooks and Sue. Photo by Montgomery Drysdale