Dee Palmer attended the Royal Academy of Music, studying composition under Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, an Oscar-nominated composer. She began her career as a freelance arranger, working with various producers at various studios. In 1968, she was referred to Terry Ellis, then manager of up-and-coming rock band Jethro Tull, as an arranger and orchestrator. Jethro Tull was about to record their debut album and Dee was there to offer her musical touch for the horns and strings. The band loved her work and she was signed on for arrangements for Stand Up, their second album.
Dee worked with Jethro Tull for years, providing innovative and intricate arrangements for thirteen albums spanning two decades. In 1976, Dee was officially welcomed as a full-time member of the band, playing keyboards and other electronic instruments on Tull’s foray into folk-rock Songs from the Wood.
In 1980, the driving force behind Jethro Tull, founder, flutist and lead vocalist Ian Anderson was preparing to record his first solo album. The record label persuaded Anderson to issue it as a Jethro Tull album. He agreed, and promptly fired every member of the band, save for long-time guitarist Martin Barre. Dee and pianist John Evan went on to form the unsuccessful band Tallis. Afterwards, Dee returned to scoring films and session work.
In 1998, Dee came out as transgender and underwent several surgeries. She explained that she had struggled with gender dysphoria her entire life, but that it had intensified after the 1995 death of her wife Maggie.
Dee’s death in early June 2026 was announced by Ian Anderson on the official Jethro Tull website. Over the years, Anderson has revealed himself to be a crotchety, self-centered, mean-spirited, typical old British narrow-minded White guy. His attempted eulogy of his long-time collaborator, bandmate and friend was fraught with disrespectful language and arrogant, self-important sentiment. It was an inappropriate and sad send-off for someone whose invaluable musical contributions deserved better. Ian Anderson should be ashamed.
Dee Palmer was 88 years old.