Marcus Turner

Marcus Turner
Marcus Turner, photographed at a folk music festival in Amberley, New Zealand, in 1983.
Background information
Born	(1956-02-16)16 February 1956
Died	2 February 2016(2016-02-02) (aged 59) Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer-songwriter
Years active	1973–2016
Associated acts	The Chaps Footspa Spot On How's That Play School Ginger Minge Binge Bush Band High Country Bluegrass.
Website	Turner's webpage

Marcus William Turner (16 February 1956 – 2 February 2016) was a singer-songwriter and folk musician from New Zealand. He performed at folk festivals in New Zealand, in Australia, and overseas. He was also a presenter in the TVNZ children's television programmes Spot On, How's That and Play School (in the latter of which he was also a director).

Turner lived on the Otago Peninsula, near Dunedin, New Zealand.^[1] He died in early February 2016.

Music career

Turner began performing at Dunedin's Otago University Folk Music Club in 1973. Initially, his music consisted of covers of music by singers such as Paul Simon and John Denver, but gradually expanded to include traditional folk. Turner was, during the 1970s, a member of several folk groups, notably the High Country Bluegrass.

Turner began to write his own songs, achieving early success with the comedic "The Civil Service Song", released by EMI as a single in the late 1970s. His first album, The Best is Yet to Come^[2] was released by CityFolk in 1983.

Turner became more widely known as a presenter of popular children's TV programme Spot On, alongside Ian Taylor and Helen McGowan. He also trained to become a television director. After Spot On he spent a year and a half in the United Kingdom.^[1]

After his return to New Zealand, Turner became a founder member of folk group The Chaps,^[3] alongside fellow Dunedin folk musicians Mike Moroney (formerly of The Pioneer Pog 'n' Scroggin Bush Band), Hyram Ballard and John Dodd. The Chaps have recorded three albums and also toured Europe twice.

In 2005, Turner released his second solo album Laid Down. His musical interests have expanded to include traditional music from many countries, and he plays a wide variety of traditional musical instruments with Footspa,^[4] a band comprising musicians from other groups located in the Dunedin area.

Some of his compositions have been recorded by performers such as Irish singer Andy Irvine, the Danish folk group Færd^[5] and the British singing group Hen Party.^[6] Turner also composed for films, including the NHNZ documentary Hotel Iguana.^[7]

Outside music

Turner continued his career working behind the scenes in television, firstly with Television New Zealand and then later with NHNZ, with whom he became a prolific director and narrator of nature documentaries. He was still working for NHNZ at the time of his death.

Death

Marcus Turner died at his home on Otago Peninsula on 2 February 2016 at the age of 59.^[8][9]

Discography

Solo

• The Best Is Yet To Come (1983)
• Laid Down (2005)

With 'The Chaps'

• In The Club (1993)
• Hiphoppalong (2003)
• Don't Worry 'Bout Your Age (2011)

By other artists

• Way Out Yonder, by Andy Irvine (2000) – features Turner's "When The Boys Are On Parade"
• Heart Gallery, by Hen Party (2005) – features Turner's "Chocolate Song"
• Michael Black, by Michael Black (2007) – features Turner's "When The Boys Are On Parade"

See also

• List of folk musicians

External links

• Marcus Turner's webpage
• Biography, nzonscreen

References