joe turner

Biography

Big Joe Turner, born Joseph Vernon Turner, Jr. on May 18, 1911, in Kansas City, Missouri, emerged as one of the most influential blues shouters of the 20th century. Growing up in the vibrant nightlife of Kansas City during Prohibition, Turner began his career as a singing bartender, where his powerful, commanding voice quickly drew attention. He formed a pivotal partnership with pianist Pete Johnson, and together they became fixtures in the city’s clubs before gaining national recognition after a landmark performance at Carnegie Hall’s 1938 'Spirituals to Swing' concert. This success led Turner to New York, where he became a popular performer in nightclubs and began recording with leading jazz and blues musicians.

Turner’s style blended jazz, boogie-woogie, blues, and early rhythm and blues, helping to shape the jump blues genre and paving the way for rock and roll. His robust baritone and energetic delivery made songs like 'Shake, Rattle and Roll,' 'Honey Hush,' and 'Flip, Flop and Fly' national hits in the 1950s, many of which were later covered by rock and roll artists such as Bill Haley. Throughout his five-decade career, Turner recorded for major labels, performed with jazz greats, and remained a dynamic presence on stage. Revered as the 'Boss of the Blues,' his influence extended across generations and genres, earning him a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame. Turner continued to perform and record into his seventies, passing away in Inglewood, California, on November 24, 1985.

Fun Facts

• Big Joe Turner was over six feet tall and performed sitting down for decades due to injuries from jumping out of a burning building as a child, which left him with lasting leg problems.
• He was known as the 'Boss of the Blues' and was a key figure in bridging jazz, blues, and early rock and roll.
• Turner’s 1954 hit 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' was one of the first rhythm and blues songs to cross over to mainstream (white) radio, helping to launch the rock and roll era.
• He continued performing and recording into his seventies, winning a Grammy Award for his work with Roomful of Blues in 1983.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Pete Johnson - Longtime musical partner and stylistic influence; Johnson’s boogie-woogie piano shaped Turner’s early sound. (‘Roll ‘Em Pete’, ‘Cherry Red’, numerous club performances) [1930s–1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Pete Johnson - Frequent duo partner in clubs, recordings, and national tours. (‘Roll ‘Em Pete’, ‘Cherry Red’, Café Society performances) [1930s–1950s]
• Count Basie - Performed and toured with Basie’s orchestra. (Live performances, Apollo Theater appearances) [1940s–1950s]
• Roomful of Blues - Collaborated on the Grammy-winning album 'Blues Train' late in his career. (‘Blues Train’ album) [1983]

Artists Influenced

• Elvis Presley - Presley covered Turner’s songs and adopted his energetic vocal style. (‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’) [1950s]
• Chuck Berry - Berry cited Turner’s blend of blues and rhythm as foundational to rock and roll. (Berry’s early rock hits) [1950s]
• Bo Diddley - Diddley was influenced by Turner’s rhythmic innovations and vocal delivery. (Diddley’s early recordings) [1950s]
• B.B. King - King recorded Turner’s song ‘Sweet Sixteen’ and was influenced by his blues phrasing. (‘Sweet Sixteen’) [1960s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Shake, Rattle and Roll (Shake Rattle & Rock)
2. Shake, Rattle & Roll (Flip, Flop And Fly 1951-1955)
3. Honey Hush (Big Joe Turner: The Rhythm & Blues Years)
4. Boogie Woogie Country Girl (Shake Rattle & Rock)
5. Corrine Corrina (Shake Rattle & Rock)
6. Shake, Rattle and Roll
7. Flip, Flop And Fly (Flip, Flop And Fly 1951-1955)
8. Roll 'Em Pete (Jumpin' With Joe)
9. Lipstick, Powder and Paint (Big Bad & Blue - The Joe Turner Anthology)
10. Flip, Flop and Fly

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia