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The
Big Joe Turner Story
Big Joe Turner was
the certainly the premiere blues shouter of his generation. Turner was
nothing if not versatile covering boogie-woogie, jump blues and even
rock and roll with amazing success during his nearly fifty year career. Turner's
interest in blues was kindled in his hometown of Kansas City where he
was born in 1911. Turner came of age when Kansas City was a wide open
town and blues and jazz could be heard everywhere. By the late 1920's
the under aged Turner was already sneaking into clubs and singing. He
ended up simultaneously tending bar and singing the blues before hooking
up with boogie piano master Pete Johnson during the early '30s. Theirs
was a partnership that would endure for 13 years.
Turner got his big break when John Hammond came through town
looking for talent. Hammond took them to New York in 1936. On
December 23, 1938, they appeared on the fabled Spirituals to Swing
concert at Carnegie Hall on a bill with Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry,
the Golden Gate Quartet, and Count Basie. Big Joe and Johnson performed
"Low Down Dog" and "It's All Right, Baby" on the
historic show, kicking off a boogie-woogie craze that landed them a
long-running slot at the Cafe Society. During this period
Turner begin his long recording career cutting sides for Vocalion,
Decca, Varsity seven and Okeh. His bands read like a who's who off jazz
greats featuring Albert Ammons, Hot Lips Page, Benny Carter, Don Byas,
Art Tatum, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Freddie Slack and many
others.
Turner headed out West during the war years laying down
sides for National records between 1945 and 1947. He also cut sides for
Aladdin, RPM, Down Beat/Swing Time and MGM.
In the early 50's Turner hooked
with Atlantic Records which would turn out to be one of the most
fruitful associations of his career. At Turner's first Atlantic date in
April of 1951, he cut the moving blues ballad "Chains of Love"
that restored him to the uppermost reaches of the R&B charts. From
there, the hits came in droves: "Chill Is On," "Sweet
Sixteen", and "Don't You Cry" all hit big.
The 60' were a slow period for Turner but
things picked up in the 70's. During the '70s and '80s, Turner recorded
prolifically for Norman Granz's Pablo label. These were mainly impromptu
sessions that often paired the shouter with various jazz luminaries in
what amounted to loosely-run jam sessions. Other notable records from
this period included a collaboration with Roomful of Blues. Turner
continued to tour until shortly before his death in 1985.
Essential Listening
Big Joe Turner: Big, Bad & Blue: Excellent
3 CD anthology featuring 62 songs that span his entire career. If you
have to pick one Big Joe Turner collection this is it.
Big Joe Turner: Boss of the
Blues (Atlantic): Stellar
1956 outing recording for one of the last times with boogie-woogie
pianist Pete Johnson.
Big Joe Turner: Have No
Fear, Big Joe Turner is Here (Savoy): 26
swinging cuts recorded for the National label between 1945 and 1947.
Big Joe Turner: Tell Me
Pretty Baby (Arhoolie): Top
notch recording with pianist Pete Johnson cut between 1947 and 1949.
Big Joe Turner: Greatest
Hits(Atlantic): The
best single disc collection of Turner's Atlantic sides (21 in all).
Includes "Chains of Love", "Sweet Sixteen", Shake,
Rattle & Roll" and "Flip, Flop & Fly" among many
other classics.
Big Joe Turner: rhythm & Blues Years(Atlantic):
Picks up where the above lets off. 28 song collection which
includes "TV Mama" (with Elmore James on guitar),
"Morning Noon & Night," and "Lipstick, Powder &
Paint' among others.
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