The PennZone

LANCASTER, Pa. - PennZone -- Nola Blue Records proudly announces the October 18, 2024 release of BT, a musical walk down memory lane with one of the last living links to Chicago's gospel and electric blues scene in the mid fifties and beyond. Turner revisits his special musical connections through the years, including tunes from Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Dee Clark, Hank Ballard, and more. Three originals complete this soulful salute to his remarkable musical journey. Special guests include Billy Davis, Harrell "Young Rell" Davenport and Sax Gordon. "There is something very endearing about BT," notes Grammy-winning engineer John Porter, who mastered the album. It is Turner's fifth release on Nola Blue Records since 2014 when he joined the label with its inaugural release: his Journey album.

Born in Gilmer, Texas in 1939, Benny Turner and his older brother, Freddie King, learned to play guitar from their mother, Ella Mae (King) Turner. Although best known for his role as bassist for the Freddie King band, he later played for Mighty Joe Young and then for Blues Queen of New Orleans Marva Wright. Turner's earliest musical endeavors include work as a recording artist for the M-Pac! and One-Derful! labels. He also appears on gospel recordings with The Kindly Shepherds and Otis Clay, including co-producing Clay's hit, "When The Gates Swing Open," and playing guitar, bass, and singing tenor and bass on the record. He toured with Dee Clark and the Soul Stirrers in the early sixties. Turner's award-winning autobiography, Survivor-The Benny Turner Story, was published in 2017. A Blues Music Award nominee (instrumentalist - bass), Turner is also an inductee into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame.

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"I'm bursting with equal, if not more, pride than when we launched the label in October 2014 with Benny's Journey album in celebration of his 75th birthday," reflects Sallie Bengtson, Nola Blue Records president. "I invite you to savor the sounds of this vastly experienced and deeply soulful man who has claimed his well-earned place in the annals of blues history."

"I had a great time working on this album with some of my favorite musicians and reminiscing about my musical history, from picking up the guitar again to revisiting my gospel roots, to finally recording some of my favorites," says Turner. "Including the songs 'Born In This Time' and 'Who Sang It First' are a very important reminder of the history of slavery and the roots of the blues that should never be forgotten."

An album release celebration will be held on Turner's 85th birthday, Sunday, October 27 at The Philadelphia Blues Society Launch Party at Jamey's House of Music in Lansdowne, PA.  He is also performing with the Nola Blue Revue, a showcase of blues veterans on the label who celebrate their shared roots in the down home blues tradition.  Upcoming performances include the Lancaster Roots and Blues Festival (Lancaster, PA) on September 27 and The Lucerne Blues Festival (Lucerne, Switzerland) in November. Benny will also be performing at the King Biscuit Blues Festival (Helena, AR) on October 12.

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Album preorders begin September 27. For additional information, visit facebook.com/bennyturnerbass and bennyturner.com/.