Big Joe Turner: The Boss of the Blues
Big Joe Turner was an American blues and rhythm and blues shouter whose powerful voice and pioneering style bridged the gap between jump blues and rock and roll. Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, his 1954 hit "Shake, Rattle and Roll" became a foundational rock anthem, cementing his legacy as a key figure in the development of popular music.
Early career
Born Joseph Vernon Turner Jr. in 1911, he began his career in the vibrant nightclubs of Kansas City during the 1920s. His big break came as a singing bartender, where he developed his signature shouting style to be heard over the noisy crowds, eventually forming a long-term partnership with boogie-woogie pianist Pete Johnson.
Breakthrough
Turner's national breakthrough arrived in 1938 with the Pete Johnson collaboration "Roll 'Em Pete," a standout performance at the legendary From Spirituals to Swing concert at Carnegie Hall. His true commercial peak came in the 1950s after signing with Atlantic Records, where producer Ahmet Ertegun helped refine his sound for the burgeoning rock and roll audience.
Key tracks
Roll 'Em Pete — This 1938 track with pianist Pete Johnson is a landmark of boogie-woogie and a blueprint for the rock and roll energy to come.
Shake, Rattle and Roll — His 1954 Atlantic single became a massive R&B chart-topper and was famously covered by Bill Haley & His Comets, igniting the rock and roll revolution.
Chains of Love — This 1951 hit for Atlantic reached number two on the Billboard R&B chart, showcasing his smoother vocal delivery and commercial appeal.
Honey Hush — Another high-charting R&B single from 1953, its lyrics and driving rhythm were later covered by rock artists including Johnny Burnette and Aerosmith.
Corrine, Corrina — Turner's 1956 version of this standard became his biggest pop chart entry, reaching number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Throughout the 1950s, Turner scored a string of R&B hits for Atlantic, including "Sweet Sixteen" and "Flip, Flop and Fly." His career experienced a major revival during the 1970s blues boom, leading to Grammy-winning albums like "The Bosses" with Count Basie and a series of well-received records for the Pablo label.
Fans of Big Joe Turner's foundational rhythm and blues and boisterous style should also explore Wynonie Harris, another premier blues shouter with a similarly raucous approach. Jimmy Rushing offers a Kansas City jazz-inflected take on the blues shouting tradition. The early rock and roll energy Turner helped inspire can be heard in Fats Domino, who translated New Orleans R&B into pop success. For the piano-driven boogie side of his work, listen to Amos Milburn.Big Joe Turner's catalog remains a staple on classic blues radio stations and dedicated rock and roll history shows. His influential recordings are frequently featured in programming blocks celebrating the roots of American music on various online radio streams.
The music of Big Joe Turner, the Boss of the Blues, continues to be broadcast on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover his essential contributions to blues and rock history by tuning into the radio stations available on onairium.com.
