Drummer Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer celebrates 50th anniversary

Reporting from Las Vegas — It’s all about the drums for Carl Palmer, one of the founding members of rock bands Asia and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. On Dec. 4, he celebrates 50 years in the music industry with a performance at the Railhead inside Boulder Station.

The Birmingham, England, native was born into a musical family. His grandmother played violin professionally, his grandfather played the drums, his father sang semi-professionally and his mother played different instruments. Palmer drummed professionaly by 16, playing in the band Atomic Rooster.

His big break came when he teamed up with Keith Emerson and Greg Lake to form the “supergroup” Emerson, Lake & Palmer in 1970. The band’s debut album came out that year and hit the top five in England and the Top 20 in America.

By 1978, ELP disbanded and Palmer eventually helped form the supergroup Asia. In 1982 the band’s self-titled debut album came out.

More than seven million copies of that album sold worldwide, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Some of Asia’s biggest hits include “Heat Of The Moment,” “Only Time Will Tell,” “Sole Survivor” and “Don’t Cry.”

Tickets for Carl Palmer start at $20.

Tickets: Stations Casinos