DO you recognise the teenage singer in Brian Cooke's vintage photograph?

The date is February 27 1965, and The Mandrakes are making their first public appearance at the Condor Club, South Cliff, Scarborough. Out front is one 16-year-old Allen Palmer, as he was known then.

He was to become Scarborough's most distinguished contemporary musician, switching from Allen to his first name of Robert en route to ten Top 40 hits between 1980 and 1994.

By then Robert Palmer was famous for the all-female backing band in his snappily-dressed videos, but the focus will fall on his original group when The Mandrakes host an evening to celebrate the life and music of their former vocalist who died last year.

The event will be staged at The Spa Ocean Room in Scarborough on Good Friday, April 9, at 7.30pm. As many remaining members of The Mandrakes as can be found will come together to perform a selection of Mandrakes and Robert Palmer material from the mid to late 1960s, when he honed his performing skills in the band.

They will be supported by special guests, who will be announced soon, and up-to-date information on the memorial concert can be found on The Mandrakes' website at www.the-mandrakes.co.uk.

Allen Palmer had fronted The Mandrakes until the summer of 1969, when he left Scarborough to join the British soul band The Allan Bown Set.

The clash with the name of band leader Allan Bown prompted him to change to Robert, which he kept for the rest of his life.

He soon moved on to join DADA, for whom he shared the vocals with Elkie Brooks. Possibly too progressive, DADA evolved into the more conventional Vinegar Joe, who retained the two vocalists destined for individual success. In 1974 he embarked on his solo career on Chris Blackwell's label, Island Records, where he gained the reputation as a 'musician's musician' while notching up such hits as Some Guys Have All The Luck, Addicted To Love, I Didn't Mean To Turn You On and I'll Be Your Baby Tonight.

Tickets for April 9 are available at £6, concessions £5, from the Spa box office from 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, or by telephone on 01723 357869 at the same times. Palmer's parents, who still live in the resort, have requested that all proceeds be donated to St. Catherine's Hospice.

Updated: 15:32 Thursday, March 11, 2004