Benny Turner

Benny Turner
Background information
Born Gilmer, Texas
Genres Blues
Occupation(s) Musician
Labels Nola Blue, Inc.
Associated acts Freddie King, Dee Clark, Mighty Joe Young, Marva Wright
Website www.bennyturner.com
Notable instruments
Bass guitar
Electric guitar
Guitar

Benny Turner is an American blues musician. He is the younger brother of Freddie King and was the bass guitarist for the Freddie King Band. Later, Turner joined Mighty Joe Young as the bass guitarist of his band before becoming the bandleader for Marva Wright for 20 years.[1] Turner received the Independent Music Award for best blues song for "I Can't Leave" and his album When She's Gone was nominated for best traditional blues CD[2] and best Soul Blues Album at the Blues Blast Awards in 2016.[3]

Biography

Turner was born in Gilmer, Texas. He and his older brother Freddie King learned how to play guitar from their mother, Ella Mae (King) Turner, and her brothers Leon and Leonard King. Turner moved to Chicago with his family in the 1950s.[4] He started his music career playing guitar for The Kindly Shepherds, a gospel group on the Nashboro Records label. He joined the group on several recordings, playing guitar and accompanying background vocals. At the time, Turner also started playing with his brother at Chicago clubs such as the Squeeze Club and Walton's Corner, where he met Dee Clark and was invited to join him and his R&B band on the road.[5]

Later, Turner would play bass for The Soul Stirrers. He eventually rejoined his brother's band and toured regularly, performing with musicians such as Eric Clapton, John Fogerty and Grand Funk Railroad.[6] While at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1973, members of Freddie's band were asked to sit in with Memphis Slim, and Turner played bass on the recording of "Memphis Slim – Very Much Alive and in Montreux."[5]

Following the death of Freddie King in 1976, Turner became deeply depressed and was hospitalized. After two years of seclusion, he was convinced to start performing again and joined Mighty Joe Young's band, which he played in for eight years. During that time, Turner and Young appeared in the 1981 film Thief while playing live at the Wise Fools Pub in Chicago.[7] Later, Turner moved to New Orleans and became the bandleader for Marva Wright in 1986, playing with her band for 20 years.[1][8]

After Wright's passing in 2010, Turner went on to release three albums including his critically acclaimed 2014 album of original work called Journey.[9] He also rejoined other members of the original Freddie King band for a brief tour celebrating King's 80th birthday.[10][11] His 2016 album When She's Gone is dedicated to his mother Ella Mae and features a collection of six original reissues from his album, Blue and Not So Blue, and four blues standards. His autobiography, "SURVIOR: The Benny Turner Story" is scheduled for release on July 8, 2017.[12]

Discography

Album Artist Release Date Credit
Gives You a Bonanza of Instrumentals Freddie King 1965 Bass
Very Much Alive and in Montreux Memphis Slim 1973 Bass
Larger Than Life Freddie King 1975 Bass
Freddie King (1934-1976) Freddie King 1977 Bass
Takin' Care of Business Freddie King 1985 Electric bass, bass
Live in Antibes, 1974 Freddie King 1988 Bass
Live at the Wise Fools Pub Mighty Joe Young 1990 Guitar (bass)
The Blues Is... Otis Clay 1991 Vocals, bass
The Gospel Truth Otis Clay 1993 Guitar, background vocals, bass
When the Gates Swing Open Otis Clay 1994 Guitar, background vocals, bass
Let the Good Times Roll Freddie King 1994 Bass
Born with the Blues Marva Wright 1996 Bass
Mighty Man Mighty Joe Young 1997 Guitar (bass)
Bluesiana Mama Marva Wright 1999 Bass
Paris Mississippi Blues Memphis Slim 2005 Bass
Do Right Woman: The Soul of New Orleans Marva Wright 2006 Bass
After the Levees Broke Marva Wright 2007 Producer, arranger, guitar (bass),background vocals
A Tribute to My Brother Freddie King Benny Turner 2011 Primary artist
Journey Benny Turner 2014 Primary artist
When She's Gone Benny Turner 2016 Primary artist, producer, composer, bass, guitar, vocals[13]

References

  1. 1 2 Nerl, Daryl (March 26, 2015). "Reunion band channels fiery guitarist Freddie King". The Morning Call. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Winners of the 15th Annual Independent Music Awards". Independent Music Awards. November 17, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  3. ↑ "2016 Blues Blast Music Awards Announced". Blues Blast Magazine. June 29, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  4. ↑ Kirby, Mary (February 20, 2014). "Blues man Benny Turner returns to Gilmer roots". Gilmer Mirror. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Benny Turner Biography". Nola Blue, Inc. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Benny Turner: Stepping into the Spotlight" (PDF). Living Blues. August 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Benny Turner". IMDB. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  8. ↑ Limnios, Michalis (April 20, 2016). "Benny Turner: Blues Groove Never Gone". Blues GR. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Benny Turner". NAMM. March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  10. ↑ Jones, Scott (July 1, 2014). "Gilmer native seeks more recognition for musical family". CBS. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  11. ↑ Houston, Daniel (December 17, 2015). "Members of Freddie King’s original touring band reunite for Richardson concert". Dallas News. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  12. ↑ http://www.bennyturner.com/survivor1
  13. ↑ "Benny Turner Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
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