BENNY TURNER TRUE TO HIS ART

Benny Turner, a seasoned blues bassist, singer, and songwriter, has spent decades in the heart of the blues scene, carving out his unique sound while honouring the rich legacy of the genre. As the younger brother of the legendary Freddie King, he has played alongside the greatest blues musicians of all time but has firmly established himself as a standout artist in his own right.

WORDS: Colin Campbell

His deep, soulful voice and powerful bass lines have been heard on stages worldwide, and his contributions to the blues have earned him recognition as a living link to its golden era. Today, he continues to keep the spirit of the blues alive, both through his solo work and collaborations with other artists. Blues Matters chatted with him about his career and his newest release entitled, BT. Interview was via Zoom call Benny was at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas, sharing the highs and lows of his remarkable musical journey.

A Family Of Music

For Benny Turner, music was in his blood from the very beginning. Born into a musically gifted family in East Texas, Turner’s path to becoming a musician was practically set before him. “My mother had four brothers who played guitar, so we wanted to play too, Freddie was a fast learner; he picked it up first, and then I followed. I was about five years old, and Freddie was around ten when we started playing.” His mother was a key figure in nurturing their talent. She taught both brothers the basics, and the sounds of music quickly became a constant presence in their household. “Freddie got his first guitar from our father, who worked in the Texas stockyards, it wasn’t a pretty job, but it helped Fred get started.”

Early Days Of Vocals And Harmonising

Beyond their instrumental prowess, the Turner household was filled with singing. “We would harmonise like a quartet, one person would sing lead, and we’d all join in. That’s where I picked up my vocal technique. On my latest CD, I do a tune where I’m singing the lead and all the background parts. It’s something I picked up from those early days of harmonising with my family.”

CHICAGO: WHERE THE BLUES TOOK ROOT

While Benny and Freddie’s journey began in Texas, it wasn’t until they moved to Chicago in the 1950s that the blues truly took hold of their lives. “For me, it got serious in 1955, Freddie went straight into the blues after meeting Howlin’ Wolf, while I started off in gospel before eventually moving over to the blues.”

The Chicago blues scene in the 1950s was electric, with clubs scattered all over the city’s West Side. Benny and his brother were regulars at venues like the Squeeze Club. “You could go 24 hours singing, dancing, and playing. The West Side was full of blues with legends like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf up and down Madison Street. The vibrant scene fostered camaraderie among musicians, even though it wasn’t without its rough edges. At the Squeeze Club, everybody carried a knife... just kidding, but not really.” Chicago may have been tough, but it was also a haven for anyone who lived and breathed the blues.

Life In The Clubs And On The Road

Turner has countless stories from his time in the Chicago clubs, including late-night jam sessions that would go on until dawn. “We’d play until 3 or 4 in the morning, then head to Maxwell Street for hot dogs. After that, we’d hit the Trocadero, where they didn’t even start playing until 3 or 4 a.m.”

One of Turner’s most cherished memories is of his collaboration with Memphis Slim, the legendary blues pianist. “I did a record with him in Switzerland, and it was the only time we worked together, but I loved him. He had these long fingers, and man, could he play. He had a voice so strong that you could hear him across the street without a microphone. That was Memphis Slim for you.”

LEARNING STAGECRAFT: CUTTING HEADS IN CHICAGO

When asked where he honed his stagecraft, he chuckled as he recalled those days. “Different guys would come into the Squeeze Club, and we called it ‘cutting heads.’ You know what I mean? They’d come in and try to outplay you, and let’s just say I got my hair cut a few times.”

One name stood out among the head-cutters. Jack Myers. “He was the one who really cut my hair,” Turner laughed. “He’d come in, and boy, he could move. Play guitar, move your face, do all these things while playing. The guys in my band would whisper in my ear, ‘He’s gonna cut your ears off,’ and sure enough, I’d learn a lesson. I learned the hard way,” he admitted, but those experiences helped shape him into the performer he is today.

INFLUENCES: HOWLIN WOLF, FREDDIE KING, AND MUDDY WATERS

Of course, his brother Freddie King played a pivotal role in shaping his journey. “Freddie was playing in bars before me, and sometimes I’d go up and sing with them, I wasn’t very good at first, but little by little, I learned how to control everything. It wasn’t natural, but Freddie was a big influence in helping me get there. I loved Howlin’ Wolf, he was such a big presence and watching him taught me so much about commanding the stage. Muddy was one of those guys you learned from just by watching, I remember seeing him for the first time, he was walking on tables at a bar! I didn’t even know it was Muddy at the time.”

Turner recalled a light-hearted moment with Muddy Waters during a tour on the American Express Blues Train. “We were getting ready for dinner, and Muddy said, ‘I gotta hurry before Freddie and his brother get here. They’re always watching how my jaws move when I eat!’”

A Legacy Of The Blues

Throughout his career, Benny Turner has not only performed alongside legends, but he’s also kept their legacy alive through his own work. “Muddy, Howlin’ Wolf, Freddie, they were all such huge influences, but Buddy Guy was another who taught me a lot. On my latest CD, I’m doing one of Buddy Guy’s songs,” he revealed. Turner’s respect for the blues runs deep, and he remains committed to preserving its traditions while adding his own voice to the genre. “It’s important to keep the blues alive, to keep playing it and passing it on.”

THE ROAD TO A NEW ALBUM: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

“It’s taken quite a while to finish, a lot of things went down, Hurricane Ida, the coronavirus shutdown, it put everything on hold.” Living in New Orleans, he experienced firsthand the devastation of Hurricane Ida. “Then, of course, musicians were out of work for months due to COVID. The money situation went downhill, but thanks to Nola Blue Records, we got the album finished, and it’s here today. It’s a good feeling, after everything, to finally have it out there.”

A Tribute To Blues Legends

Turner’s new album also serves as a tribute to the musicians who have crossed his path throughout his storied career. “I couldn’t fit them all on the record, but I made sure to include some songs from my favourites, like Muddy Waters, Hank Ballard from the Midnighters, and Dee Clark.”

One of his fondest memories is playing “Raindrops” with Dee Clark at the Apollo Theatre in New York. “It was amazing, I went from playing in a bar on the West Side of Chicago to leading a band at the Apollo. I couldn’t read a note, but I could think, and it all just came naturally.” From there, he performed at iconic venues across the country, like the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C., sharing the stage with legends such as Marvin Gaye and The Temptations. “It was a whirlwind, being able to play with those guys and move around like that, it’s hard to describe how happy I was at that time.”

MEETING OTIS REDDING: A HUMBLE BEGINNING

One of the more humorous and heartwarming moments of Turner’s career came from an early encounter with Otis Redding. Before Redding’s rise to fame, the two were playing at the same club, and Turner recalls a conversation in Redding’s dressing room. “Otis was sitting there reading a magazine, and he looks at me and says, ‘I got a hit record.’ I didn’t even know who he was!” Turner laughed. “I told him, ‘Okay, cool,’ but I hadn’t heard of him or the song he was talking about.”

That song was “These Arms of Mine.” The next day, Turner heard it on the radio while riding down the highway. “I realised he really did have a hit record,” he said with a chuckle.

MUSICAL ADVICE: FIND YOUR OWN SOUND

When asked about the best musical advice he can offer, Turner’s response was simple but profound: “Stay with your art. Stick with it and find your own spot. Copycats don’t get anywhere.” He often tells young musicians who idolise his brother, Freddie King, “You can try to play like Freddie King all day, but what can you do? What’s your sound?” Turner believes in nurturing young talent, and he’s especially proud of a rising musician featured on his new album, Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport. “He’s young, but he has his own thing going on. You just wind him up, hit the button, and let him go, He’s got it.”

A LEGACY OF FIRSTS: GOSPEL ROOTS

Turner’s blues career is rooted in gospel, and he’s proud of the milestones he achieved in that genre. One of his biggest thrills came from being the first guitarist to perform with Chicago’s Kindly Shepherds, a gospel group he joined in the 1950s. Later, Turner became the first bass player to tour with the Soul Stirrers, a major gospel group. “Back then, no one in gospel used bass players on tour, so that was a big deal for me,”

BLUES VS. GOSPEL: TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN

He feels an emotional connection to both. “When I sing blues, I have to feel it, It’s the same with gospel. When I sing gospel, it comes from the heart.” Turner’s ability to blend these two musical worlds has been one of his defining traits. Whether he’s singing about life’s struggles or spiritual salvation, Turner’s voice conveys a raw, authentic emotion that only comes from lived experience.

A TRIBUTE TO THE PAST, A MESSAGE FOR THE FUTURE

Turner’s new album BT features a range of songs that pay homage to the legends of blues and gospel, while also highlighting his own unique style. One standout track, Going Down Slow, was inspired by Howlin’ Wolf, a musician Turner admired greatly. “Wolf sang from the heart. He was something special,”

Bump My Susie is a nod to Mighty Joe Young, while Who Sang It First is a reflective piece that looks back at the overlooked contributions of black musicians. “We should think about all the musicians who came before us that people don’t even talk about,” The song was born from a conversation with his manager and evolved into a tribute to the rich history of black music.

TRUE TO HIS ART: A LEGACY BUILT ON AUTHENTICITY

When asked how he would like to be remembered in the annals of blues history, Turner responded with humility

BORN IN THIS TIME WHO SANG IT FIRST and sincerity. “I was true to my art,” he said. “I developed my own style, and as a bass player, I definitely have my own thing going.”

The Unsung Heroes: A Call to Recognise the Sidemen Turner’s career is not just about his time in the spotlight but also about his role as a sideman, a position he feels deserves more recognition in the music world. “Nobody recognises the sidemen,” he said, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and nostalgia. “That’s what I was for all those years, a sideman. The guys out front, they get all the glory, the money, the girls! The sidemen? They don’t get anything.

There should be something for the sidemen, because without them, the music wouldn’t be the same.”

A Career Defined By Collaborations And Friendships

Throughout his career, Turner has rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in blues and beyond. From performing at iconic venues like Crystal Palace and The Roundhouse in London to playing alongside legends like Eric Clapton, Turner has seen it all. Reflecting on his time in London, he recalled, “We had lots of fun. That was one of the main stops. I played gigs with Clapton and others; it was a great time.” Turner’s ties to the UK run deep, and though his performances there have been few in recent years, he remains open to the idea of returning. “If I get the chance, I probably will come back,” he said, hinting at the possibility of future performances across the pond.

A Tribute to the Blues: What’s Next for Benny Turner?

Turner’s latest album, BT is a testament to his unwavering commitment to the blues. It’s an album that not only pays tribute to the greats but also showcases his own style, honed over decades of experience. As we wrapped up our conversation, I asked if there was anything he’d like to say to the readers of Blues Matters. His response was simple but powerful: “I’m going to be playing the blues today, just like I always have.”

For further information, see website: bennyturner.com