Early Years
Palmer was born in Santa Monica, California in 1971, and grew up primarily in Redmond, Washington, near Seattle. Her Finnish-born mother, who worked for an airline, was the breadwinner in their unorthodox household. Holly's father was a writer who sang songs by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Neil Young and Bob Dylan around the house.
Growing up, Holly played the family piano whenever possible, and played the flute in a school music ensemble. In the eighth grade, she switched to the saxophone so that she could sing with the school's jazz band. She soon began singing standards with the group, and became inspired by visionary jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, whose innovative interpretations would make an enormous mark on Palmer's iconoclastic style. After high school, Holly attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA before making her way to Boston, Massachusetts to stay with a friend. She attended and graduated from Berklee College of Music.
Read more about this topic: Holly Palmer
Famous quotes related to early years:
“If there is a price to pay for the privilege of spending the early years of child rearing in the driver’s seat, it is our reluctance, our inability, to tolerate being demoted to the backseat. Spurred by our success in programming our children during the preschool years, we may find it difficult to forgo in later states the level of control that once afforded us so much satisfaction.”
—Melinda M. Marshall (20th century)