{{short description|American blues musician (born 1939)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Benny Turner | image = Benny-Turner 2016.jpg | caption = | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|10|27}} | birth_place = Gilmer, Texas, United States | origin = | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) --> | death_place = | genre = Blues | occupation = Musician | instrument = | years_active = <!-- YYYY–YYYY (or –present) --> | label = One-derful, Nola Blue, Inc. | website = {{URL|http://www.bennyturner.com/}} }}
'''Benny Turner''' (born October 27, 1939)<ref name="Benny">{{cite web|url=http://www.bennyturner.com|title=Bio|website=Bennyturner.com|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Mcall/> After many years as a sideman, Turner started his solo career.
== Early years == Turner was born in Gilmer, Texas, on October 27, 1939.<ref name="Benny" /> He and Freddie learned how to play guitar from their mother, Ella Mae (King) Turner, and her brothers Leon and Leonard King. In the 1950s, Turner moved to Chicago with his family.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gilmermirror.com/view/full_story/24613315/article-Blues-man-Benny-Turner-returns-to-Gilmer-roots|title=Blues man Benny Turner returns to Gilmer roots|last=Kirby|first=Mary|date=February 20, 2014|publisher=Gilmer Mirror|access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref>
==Career== Turner 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.<ref name="bio">{{cite web| url=http://www.bennyturner.com/bio.html| title=Benny Turner Biography| publisher=Nola Blue, Inc.| access-date=March 12, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313044432/http://www.bennyturner.com/bio.html| archive-date=March 13, 2017| url-status=dead}}</ref> thumb|Benny and Dee Clark on stage at the Apollo Theater 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.<ref>{{cite journal| title=Benny Turner: Stepping into the Spotlight| journal=Living Blues| date=August 2013| url=http://www.bennyturner.com/uploads/1/0/0/7/10079858/livingblues.pdf| access-date=March 12, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313044450/http://www.bennyturner.com/uploads/1/0/0/7/10079858/livingblues.pdf| archive-date=March 13, 2017| url-status=dead}}</ref> 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''.<ref name=bio/>
Following Freddie's death 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.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0877405/| title=Benny Turner| publisher=IMDB| access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref> Later, Turner moved to New Orleans and became the bandleader for Marva Wright in 1986, playing with her band for 20 years.<ref name=Mcall>{{cite web| url=http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-freddie-king-reunion-band-bethlehem-20150326-story.html | title=Reunion band channels fiery guitarist Freddie King |first=Daryl| last=Nerl| date=March 26, 2015| publisher=The Morning Call|access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/interview-with-legendary-blueman-benny-turner| title=Benny Turner: Blues Groove Never Gone| first=Michalis| last=Limnios| date=April 20, 2016| publisher=Blues GR| access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref>
After Wright's death in 2010, Turner went on to release four albums including his critically acclaimed 2014 album of original work called ''Journey''.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/benny-turner| title=Benny Turner| date=March 20, 2015| publisher=NAMM| access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref> He also rejoined other members of the original Freddie King band for a brief tour celebrating King's 80th birthday.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cbs19.tv/news/gilmer-native-seeks-more-recognition-for-musical-family_201607070915128/266268478| title=Gilmer native seeks more recognition for musical family| first=Scott| last=Jones| date=July 1, 2014| publisher=CBS| access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/richardson/2015/12/17/members-of-freddie-kings-original-touring-band-reunite-for-richardson-concert| title=Members of Freddie King's original touring band reunite for Richardson concert| first=Daniel |last=Houston| date=December 17, 2015| publisher=Dallas News| access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref> His 2016 album ''When She's Gone'' was dedicated to his mother Ella Mae and featured a collection of six original reissues from his album, ''Blue and Not So Blue'', and four blues standards. His autobiography, ''Survivor: The Benny Turner Story'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Survivor-Benny-Turner-Story-ebook/dp/B071KKYXFM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498768754&sr=8-1&keywords=survivor+benny+turner|title=Survivor: The Benny Turner Story|first1=Bill|last1=Dahl|date=8 July 2017|website=Amazon.com|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> was published on July 8, 2017.<ref>[http://www.bennyturner.com/survivor1]{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Also in 2017, Turner released his latest album, ''My Brother's Blues''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/benny-turner-my-brothers-blues-album-review/|title=Benny Turner – My Brother's Blues {{!}} Album Review|website=Bluesblastmagazine.com|date=29 September 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-04}}</ref> This award-winning album is a tribute to big brother Freddie King and features 11 tunes from Freddie's songbook that are of special significance to Benny. In 2019, Turner joined forces with longtime friend and fellow Chicago musician Cash McCall to record ''Going Back Home'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/benny-turner-and-cash-mccall-going-back-home-album-review/|title=Benny Turner and Cash McCall-Going Back Home {{!}} Album Review|last=|first=|date=15 June 2019|website=|access-date=}}</ref> revisiting their days of playing on Chicago's South and West Sides.
On October 27, 2019, Turner celebrated his 80th birthday at the Inaugural Lone Star Blues and Heritage Festival in Grapeland, Texas. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas officially recognized this milestone and Turner's many contributions to music and music history.
== Awards and accolades == thumb|Benny Turner in 1975 * 2014 Offbeat Best of the Beat Awards - Nominee for Best Blues Album - ''Journey''<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.offbeat.com/articles/offbeat-magazines-best-beat-awards-2014/|title=OffBeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards 2014|work=OffBeat Magazine|access-date=2018-05-04|language=en-US}}</ref> * 2015 International Songwriting Competition - Finalist for Blues Song - ''Breakin' News'' * 2016 Blues Blast Music Awards - Nominee for Soul Blues Album - ''When She's Gone''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/2016-blues-blast-music-awards/|title=2016 Blues Blast Music Awards – Blues Blast Magazine|website=Bluesblastmagazine.com|date=27 June 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-04}}</ref> * 2016 Independent Blues Awards Awards - Nominee for Best Traditional Blues CD - ''When She's Gone'' <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.makingascene.org/indie-blues-awards/|title=Independent Blues Awards Announced! – Making A Scene!|date=2016-06-29|work=Making A Scene!|access-date=2018-05-04|language=en-US}}</ref> * 15th Independent Music Awards - Winner for Blues Song - ''I Can't Leave''<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://independentmusicawards.com/the-15th-independent-music-awards-winners/|title=The 15th Independent Music Awards Winners - Independent Music Awards|work=Independent Music Awards|access-date=2018-05-04|language=en-US}}</ref> * 16th Independent Music Awards - Nominee for Tribute CD - ''My Brother's Blues''<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://independentmusicawards.com/16th-independent-music-awards-nominees/|title=The 16th Independent Music Awards Nominees - Independent Music Awards|work=Independent Music Awards|access-date=2018-05-04|language=en-US}}</ref> *17th Independent Music Awards - Nominee for Blues Album - ''Going Back Home''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://independentmusicawards.com/17th-independent-music-awards-nominees/|title=The 17th Independent Music Awards Nominees & Winners|website=Independent Music Awards|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-01}}</ref> * 2018 Global Music Awards - Silver Medal for Outstanding Achievement - ''My Brother's Blues''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalmusicawards.com/#|title=Global Music Awards - Music Competition|website=Globalmusicawards.com|access-date=2018-05-04}}</ref> * Turner received the 2017 Jus Blues Music Foundation "Little Milton Lifetime Bluesman Award"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jusblues.org/2017-honorees.html|title=2017 Honorees|website=JUS BLUES MUSIC FOUNDATION|language=en|access-date=2018-05-04}}</ref> * Turner was inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame in 2017<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blueshalloffame.com/Local_Blues_Talent/Local_Blues_Talent_of_Chicago_Illinois_2017.html|title=Chicago Blues Hall of Fame ® Artists inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame ® on October 15th. 2017 includes:: Eddie C. Campbell Holle Thee Maxwell Gene "Daddy G" Barge Barry Goldberg Carl Weathersby Merle Perkins Big Llou Johnson Billy Branch John Primer Benny Turner Katherine Davis Carlos Johnson Abb Locke Mary Lane Zora Young Felton Crews Shirley Johnson Smiley Tillmon Peaches Staten Lil' Ed Williams Mike Garrett James "Pookie" Young|website=Blueshalloffame.com|access-date=2018-05-04}}</ref> * October 27, 2017, was named "Benny Turner Day" in Gilmer, Texas, by proclamation of Mayor Tim Marshall<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prlog.org/12669837-october-27-named-benny-turner-day-in-gilmer-tx.html|title=October 27 named "Benny Turner Day" in Gilmer, TX|website=Prlog.org|access-date=2018-05-04}}</ref> * Turner was a nominee in the 39th Blues Music Awards in the Instrumentalist-Bass category<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blues.org/blues-music-awards/|title=BLUES MUSIC AWARDS - Blues Foundation|website=blues.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-04}}</ref> *2018 Blues Blast Music Awards - Nominee for Male Blues Artist of the Year and Soul Blues Album-My Brother's Blues<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/2018-blues-blast-music-awards-nominees/|title=2018 Blues Blast Music Awards Nominees – Blues Blast Magazine|date=4 June 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-01}}</ref> *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)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://livingblues.com/living-blues-awards-2018/|title=25th Annual Living Blues Awards (2018) - Living Blues Magazine|date=2018-07-31|work=Living Blues Magazine|access-date=2018-09-24|language=en-US}}</ref> *26th Living Blues Awards, Critics' Poll - Winner for Most Outstanding Musician (Bass)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://livingblues.com/26th-annual-living-blues-awards-2019/|title=26th Annual Living Blues Awards (2019)|date=2019-08-03|website=Living Blues Magazine|language=en|access-date=2020-04-01}}</ref> *2019 Blues Blast Music Awards - Nominee for Traditional Blues Album - ''Going Back Home''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thebbmas.com/2019-nominees/|title=2019 Nominees {{!}} The 2019 Blues Blast Music Awards|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-01}}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> *2019 Independent Blues Awards - Nominee for Best Traditional Blues CD - ''Going Back Home''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.makingascene.org/2019-independent-blues-awards/|title=2019 Independent Blues Awards!|date=2019-09-03|website=Making A Scene!|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-01}}</ref>
==Discography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! 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) |- | ''Blue and Not So Blue'' | Benny Turner | 1997 | Primary artist |- | ''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<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/benny-turner-mn0000059531/credits| title=Benny Turner Credits| publisher=AllMusic| access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref> |- | ''My Brother's Blues'' | Benny Turner | 2017 | Primary artist<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/My-Brothers-Blues-Benny-Turner/dp/B074MDDH8N/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508849779&sr=8-1&keywords=Benny+Turner|title=My Brother's Blues|access-date=9 April 2018|website=Amazon.com}}</ref> |- |''Going Back Home'' |Benny Turner and Cash McCall |2019 |Producer, primary artist, bass, guitar, vocals<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Going Back Home|url=https://www.amazon.com/Going-Back-Benny-Turner-McCall/dp/B07LD4Z2S8/ref=tmm_acd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1599577054&sr=8-13|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Amazon.com}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Turner, Benny}} Category:1939 births Category:Living people Category:American blues musicians Category:Texas blues musicians Category:Chicago blues musicians Category:African-American guitarists Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:American blues guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:Guitarists from Illinois Category:Guitarists from Texas Category:People from Gilmer, Texas Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:One-derful Records artists Category:20th-century African-American musicians Category:21st-century African-American musicians