Biography - From Woodstock to Muscle Shoals
Online
SonicBids Press Kit
“Livin’ on the Line” -
Papa T Project
Is there a guitar picker in the
house? Let me hear somebody testify! The power and excitement coming from the
hot licks on Papa T’s guitar are something akin to an old time Holy Ghost
revival.
Papa T laughingly tells
people, “I’m an ol’ rocker, but at least I’m refinished.” There’s more truth to
that than fiction as this Tennessee preacher’s son traces his youthful years in
rock‘n roll bands against his daddy’s wishes.
In the 70’s, his bands shared the
stage with such legendary acts as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sly and the Family Stone, Blue
Oyster Cult and REO Speed Wagon. He also lent his talents to live dates and
recording sessions of artist/writer Byron Gallimore, a top Music Row mogul who
has produced acts like Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Jessica Andrews. Kyle Lehning,
who went on to produce Randy Travis and Dan Seals (England Dan and John Ford
Coley), among others, also played music with Papa T. The two of them
still do a yearly reunion gig together.
The mid nineties saw the ol’
rocker switch hats to promote concerts, showcasing artists like Bob Carlisle
(Butterfly Kisses), Greg Volz of Petra, Kim Boyce, and Eric Champion.
Christian broadcasting in the
Nashville area can thank him for yet another hat he wore, that of building
translators for Christian radio stations in the region.
In 2003, after 25 years, Steve
Turner made his last run as a UPS feeder driver in exchange for his “Papa T”
hat to pursue full time music. For much of his life, he’d had a vision to use
his guitar and writing to touch people in a positive, uplifting way. January
2005, witnessed that dream coming to fruition with the completion of the
“Livin’ on the Line” DVD/CD.
A tribute to the 101st
Airborne Screaming Eagles and to CW2 Howard W. Blanton, Jr. of “C” Company of
the 101st, who died in a helicopter crash at Ft. Campbell, the DVD is
also for the all the soldiers and their families who have ever served their
country. Papa T knew without question that this project was supposed to
be. It’s for all of those who are “livin’ on the line” so the rest of us can be
“living free.”
The Turner household is afloat
with music, considering that Papa T’s son, Christian Turner, is
also pursuing a full time career as an artist and songwriter. The “Livin’ on
the Line” project was the perfect vehicle to introduce Christian on
video since he co-wrote and delivered his soulful rendition on the fourth cut,
“Living Free.”
Christian’s grab you by the heart, soul penetrating
vocals are the counterpart to Papa T’s smokin’ guitar licks…powerful and
absorbing! To hear the two of them rock out together is some kind of wonderful.
His
catalogue totals more than sixty original compositions, and
Christian Turner is raring to let the
world hear them all. Following his debut CD, “Make It Through the Gray,”
his latest project, “Twelve Steps From the Tip Jar,” recorded in
Muscle Shoals, was completed in 2006. Christian’s idea of success is to be able
to perform 90% original tunes and 10% covers. With the spirits of Otis Redding
and Robert Johnson at his back, and Paul Rodgers as his mentor, he’s ready to
break loose with a whole lot of “Soul Motion,” Christian Turner style.
However, the 28 year old artist is
gearing up for his second solo project which will feature selections from some
of the 60 or more songs that he’s penned or co-written since 1997. This will
follow his debut CD from 2000, entitled, “Make It Through The Gray.”
An avid student of the
sixties Memphis and Motown sounds, he’s carved out a unique vocal style that
assures him fans wherever he performs.
That was never more evident than when Paul Rodgers (now singing with Queen)
handpicked Christian to be the opening act for the Bad Company “Live
2002 CD/DVD U.S. Tour.” Accompanied only by Papa T on acoustic
guitar, he brought the house down in Denver.
Because of an amazing set of circumstances
that allowed Christian to meet his musical hero, Rodgers has also become
his friend and mentor. In addition, Otis Redding and Edwin McCain are counted
among Christian’s most noted musical influences.
“Real” is the definitive term the young artist wants cemented to
his music…real heart, real emotion, and real substance.
“I despise categorization and the
labeling of things,” Christian explains. “If it’s going to stand up in
the end and be counted for, it has to come from your soul. If it’s genuine,
people will listen. Soul is not a flavor of the month. Willie Dixon said that
the blues are roots; everything else is the fruits. Well, the same should be
said for ‘soul.’ Soul is what it’s all about. And believe me, these fruits are
ripe for the taking. The time is now. I like to think of it as ‘Soul Motion.”
In addition, “Livin’ on the
Line” would not have happened without the magic pen of songwriter
Cris
Moore, who was instrumental in writing the lyrics on the entire project.
No stranger to musical success, Cris
was the co-writer on two number one hits, “Heart’s Desire” and “Tender
Moment,” by Lee Roy Parnell. The Florence, Alabama native also wrote
numerous other tunes with Parnell. “Back in My Arms Again,” by Kenny
Chesney, was a Moore composition, and he co-wrote “Hillbilly With a Heartache,”
recorded by Tracy Lawrence and John Anderson, featured on Tracy’s platinum CD, “I
See It Now.” Actually,
platinum is Cris’s favorite color now, considering that his cut of “One Foot
In Front of the Other” on George Strait’s “It Just Comes Natural “ CD is
also certified platinum.
Cris and
Papa T first became friends when they were both UPS feeder truck drivers,
making runs to Cookeville, Tennessee in 1996. Politics and the state of the
world topped the subjects of their initial conversations via CB radio, but it
later turned to spiritual things. Papa T became Cris’ spiritual
mentor before they linked up to write music together in the Turner home studio.
Unknowingly, UPS became a catalyst for a hotbed of musical talent to merge
forces. In 1993, Cris met Earl Heatherly, another feeder driver, at the
UPS center in Chattanooga. Aware of Cris’s musical accomplishments,
Heatherly gave him a tape of his son’s music. The rest, as they say, is history.
Cris and Eric Heatherly started to write together, Eric got a deal with
Mercury Records, and his remake of the old Statler song, “Flowers on the Wall,”
became a big hit. Cris ended up with two cuts on Eric’s “Swimming in
Champagne” CD.
Later, Papa T took
Christian along one night when he and Cris attended an Eric Heatherly
concert. That was also the night that Cris first heard Christian
sing. Once again history repeated itself as Papa T, Christian and Cris
have puts heads together for some powerful compositions.
“Well, I just wait
at work till somebody introduces me to his son,” Cris jokingly told
everyone, “then I get the next cut. It’s a whole lot easier than getting out
there pitching those songs!”
However, he is
quick to give credit to God for his writing gift. He calls himself a “receiver,”
and he and Papa T both believe that in a world gone crazy, God is
allowing them to make a difference in their own little space with music.
In addition, the
“Livin’ on the Line” team would not be complete without the technical
prowess of video producer, Steve Sawyer, who brilliantly illuminated the
spirit of the songs in pictures.
Ironically, Steve drove a Fed Ex truck, and for about a year, he would
deliver packages to the Turner home, usually sound equipment of one sort or
another. Nobody was ever home when he made his deliveries, and his curiosity was
getting the best of him. Who was this Turner guy and what kind of production
business was he in? When Steve finally made a delivery and caught Papa
T at home, his boss was with him. When time is of the essence in getting
packages delivered, you don’t stop to chat. Steve knew he was treading
on shaky ground with his supervisor along, but something made him take the time
for a conversation with Papa T anyway.
To
fast forward a bit, that conversation led to Steve filming a video of a
live performance of Papa T and Christian playing at a local venue in
Clarksville, Tn. A huge fan of guitar music, he was mesmerized by Papa T’s
hot licks, and he admits that he almost forgot what he was supposed to be doing
that night.
That video, in
turn, led to his involvement with the “Livin’ on the Line”
project. Both Steve and Papa T say that something out of the
ordinary happened at his Video Impressions Studio the night they first saw the
completed project together. Papa T had been an inspiration to Steve
Sawyer throughout the process of filming, and Steve knew he had been
allowed to be part of something very special. Everyone involved with “Livin’
On The Line” seems to have been “called” to be a part of the
project, and each one feels it will somehow impact the lives of many people
along the way.
Sherry Maves 2007
Papa T Online Press Kit
For Booking Information call (931) 220-3170
