Jim Turner (singer)
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Jim Turner (born September 6, 19??) is an American country/gospel music singer and songwriter from The Lawrence Welk Show. He was also cast in the original Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway, playing the lead roles of both Pilate and Caiphias the High Priest. He is currently touring the world, singing new songs from his debut Inspirational Album, self-titled JIM TURNER. The 2007 CD is available at [1]. Jim Turner is also involved in Artist Development, and gives private voice coaching in the Nashville area.
Raised in Knoxville, Tennessee in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains, Jim got his early experience in a local band performing on the south-eastern college concert and club circuit. He then toured Europe as a youth soloist and guitarist for the University of Tennessee choir.
After graduating with honors, majoring in Management and Music, he moved to Nashville and launched a career in country music. He found success as a songwriter, session player and recording artist. While on a trip to New York performing with a variety show, Jim auditioned on Broadway for Jesus Christ Superstar and landed the lead role of Pilate in the original cast. After the Los Angeles run of Superstar, he decided to stay on the west coast but returned to his country music roots entertaining on the Los Angeles club circuit, plus colleges, fairs and clubs throughout the country.
In 1979, he was discovered by Lawrence Welk and became the show's featured country singer for its final three years on television. On the show, and on its concert tours, he also performed duets with Ava Barber and sang with The Aldridge Sisters and the Otwell Twins in addition to his solo numbers.
During the 1982 World's Fair, Jim starred in the Broadway production of Drumwright, a project of two-time Tony Award winner, John Cullum. He went on to headline in his own shows at Knott's Berry Farm and Opryland USA. He also has done his annual tour of personal appearances all across the country, cruise ship performances, as well as commuting between L.A. and Nashville for his recording commitments.
Jim is also an ordained minister from the Church of Jesus of Nazareth, a non-denominational church in Madison, Tennessee. He is also a vocal coach and runs his own record label, High Anchor Records'. Recently released is his gospel CD, the self-titled, JIM TURNER. The debut radio single release is charting in Christian Country and Southern Gospel radio in 2007.
Married to the former Terri Lynn Fraser, an engineer at ABC when he first met her, the Turners make their home in the Nashville suburb of Hendersonville.
