Back in June, Arts Desk reported that D.C. soul singer Reese Palmer, who founded the Marquees singing group in 1957 along with Marvin Gaye and two others, had bladder and prostate cancer and was in Southern Maryland Hospital. A benefit concert was held for him at the time at the Eclipse featuring D.C. R&B old-timers like The Jewels, Velons, Clovers, and Pookie Hudson’s Spaniels.

On Saturday, latter-day Marquees vocalist and manager Gayle James called in to WPFW-FM and announced that Palmer had passed away Thursday, Oct. 27.  He was 73.

Palmer had also sung with the Legendary Orioles. Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, who worked with James in planning the benefit, told Arts Desk that the funeral will be Friday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. at Mentronone Baptist Church, 5126 B St. SE. There will be no viewing, his remains will be cremated. Lindsay-Johnson also said that a “Celebration of Life” with singers who had performed with Palmer is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 20 at a still-to-be-determined location.