Benny Turner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benny Turner
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Born | October 27, 1939 Gilmer, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Labels | One-derful, Nola Blue, Inc. |
| Associated acts | Freddie King, Dee Clark, Mighty Joe Young, Marva Wright |
Benny Turner (born October 27, 1939) is a talented American blues musician. He is known for playing the bass guitar. Benny is the younger brother of the famous musician Freddie King. He played bass in Freddie King's band.
Later, Turner joined Mighty Joe Young's band. He then became the bandleader for Marva Wright for 20 years. After many years of playing with other artists, Benny Turner started his own solo music career.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Benny Turner was born in Gilmer, Texas, on October 27, 1939. He and his brother, Freddie, learned to play guitar from their mother, Ella Mae, and her brothers. In the 1950s, Benny moved to Chicago with his family.
Benny Turner's Music Career
Benny Turner began his music journey playing guitar for The Kindly Shepherds. This was a gospel group on the Nashboro Records label. He played guitar and sang background vocals on their recordings. At the same time, Turner also played with his brother Freddie at Chicago clubs.
He met Dee Clark at these clubs. Dee Clark invited Benny to join his R&B band on tour.
Later, Turner played bass for The Soul Stirrers. He eventually rejoined his brother's band and toured often. They performed with famous musicians like Eric Clapton and John Fogerty. In 1973, at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Benny played bass on a recording with Memphis Slim.
After Freddie King passed away in 1976, Benny had a very difficult time. After two years, he was encouraged to perform again. He joined Mighty Joe Young's band and played with them for eight years. During this time, Turner and Young appeared in the 1981 film Thief. They were shown playing live at a club in Chicago.
Later, Turner moved to New Orleans. In 1986, he became the bandleader for Marva Wright. He played with her band for two decades.
Solo Albums and Tributes
After Marva Wright passed away in 2010, Benny Turner released several albums. His 2014 album, Journey, received great reviews. It featured his own original songs. He also reunited with other members of the original Freddie King band for a short tour. This tour celebrated King's 80th birthday.
His 2016 album, When She's Gone, was a tribute to his mother. It included six reissued songs and four blues classics. Benny Turner's autobiography, Survivor : The Benny Turner Story, was published on July 8, 2017. In 2017, he released My Brother's Blues. This award-winning album honored his big brother Freddie King. It featured 11 songs from Freddie's collection that were special to Benny.
In 2019, Turner worked with his friend Cash McCall. They recorded Going Back Home. This album brought back memories of their early days playing in Chicago. On October 27, 2019, Benny Turner celebrated his 80th birthday. This happened at the Lone Star Blues and Heritage Festival in Grapeland, Texas. The Governor of Texas officially recognized Benny's important contributions to music.
Awards and Recognitions
Benny Turner has received many awards and honors for his music:
- 2014 Offbeat Best of the Beat Awards - Nominee for Best Blues Album - Journey
- 2015 International Songwriting Competition - Finalist for Blues Song - Breakin' News
- 2016 Blues Blast Music Awards - Nominee for Soul Blues Album - When She's Gone
- 2016 Independent Blues Awards - Nominee for Best Traditional Blues CD - When She's Gone
- 15th Independent Music Awards - Winner for Blues Song - I Can't Leave
- 16th Independent Music Awards - Nominee for Tribute CD - My Brother's Blues
- 17th Independent Music Awards - Nominee for Blues Album - Going Back Home
- 2018 Global Music Awards - Silver Medal for Outstanding Achievement - My Brother's Blues
- He received the 2017 Jus Blues Music Foundation "Little Milton Lifetime Bluesman Award".
- Turner was added to the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame in 2017.
- October 27, 2017, was named "Benny Turner Day" in Gilmer, Texas.
- Turner was nominated in the 39th Blues Music Awards for Instrumentalist-Bass.
- 2018 Blues Blast Music Awards - Nominee for Male Blues Artist of the Year and Soul Blues Album - My Brother's Blues
- 2018 Independent Blues Awards - Winner for Best Traditional Blues Band
- 2018 International Songwriting Competition - Finalist for Blues Song - What's Wrong With The World Today
- 25th Living Blues Awards, Critics' Poll - Winner for Most Outstanding Musician (Bass)
- 26th Living Blues Awards, Critics' Poll - Winner for Most Outstanding Musician (Bass)
- 2019 Blues Blast Music Awards - Nominee for Traditional Blues Album - Going Back Home
- 2019 Independent Blues Awards - Nominee for Best Traditional Blues CD - Going Back Home
Discography
Benny Turner has played on many albums throughout his career. Here are some of them:
| Album | Artist | Release Date | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| My Brother's Blues | Benny Turner | 2017 | Primary artist |
| Going Back Home | Benny Turner/Cash McCall | 2019 | Producer, primary artist, bass, guitar, vocals |
