Chuck Turner

b. Charles Turner, 6 April 1963, Jamaica, West Indies. Turner’s initial experience in the Jamaican music industry was as a drummer, and he first embarked on session work at the age of 11. In 1974, he was employed to play in session at Channel One, Dynamics and Tuff Gong. By the late 70s he had joined a band performing as Black Culture before moving on to the Zenith Band who had secured a regular bookings on the island’s hotel circuit. The Zenith Band made little impact in the recording industry, although they were invited to perform at the annual Reggae Sunsplash festival in 1984. While acknowledging the prestige of performing alongside Jamaica’s finest, Turner returned to the hotel circuit where he joined the Tony DaCosta Affair at the Seawind Hotel in Montego Bay. DaCosta became Turner’s guiding mentor and coached him as a singer to perform reggae and soul to the tourists. His experience as a vocalist resulted in him joining King Jammy’s sound system as well as performing on other popular sounds. Turner’s association with Jammy led to recording sessions and in 1987 he enjoyed a hit with ‘I Need You’. He maintained a high profile in the Jamaican chart and in the late 80s enjoyed a number 1 hit with the sublime ‘Tears’. Throughout the 90s Turner toured North America and Europe alongside artists such as, Lieutenant Stitchie, Charlie Chaplin, Josey Wales, Leroy Smart, Sugar Minott, Admiral Bailey, Frankie Paul, Supercat and Shabba Ranks. In addition to his hectic touring schedule he established his songwriting skills and provided support in Jamaica for visiting artists such as, Chaka Khan, Ronnie Dyson and Johnny Gill. While he has not maintained a high profile in the reggae charts Turner continued to release the occasional hit, including the Lloyd Barnes -produced ‘Over You’ in 2000.
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