The Troubadour, Jim Turner: 

 Raised in the shadow of the Smoky Mts.,Jim Turner was singing in the choir of  Knoxville‘s 1st Christian Church by age 6, , joining his Dad, an operattic Basso-Profundo, and Mom, a classical pianist. This musical family prayed together every day, and Jim learned to honor Jesus as well as express himself in original tunes and gospel stories. Turning professional on the classical guitar at age 14, his boy falsetto turned into a bass baritone. Recognizing that their son had been given "a God-given talent", his family made sure young Jim had proper voice training, creating a wonderful four octave range...and a bass singer who reached the back of the hall wihout needing a  mike!

Jim was honored his first year at the U. of TN., by touring Europe as a Freshman soloist. Writing and performing a combination of folk, country and gospel/blues, Jim earned the nickname “Troubadour” as a teenager, singing "in Gatlinburg each mid-July" heading his family-fun group, “The Gentlemen“. Booked each summer, he put himself through college with a Major in Engineering Management, at his parent's insistance. His father, having been trained for a musical career, wanted his child to have a choice-so, Jim studied calculus and turned down his Music Scholarship.

Featuring his classical guitar and  country gospel heart, Jim headed for Nashville after UT. A New York ”gig” sidetracked him to Broadway, where he sang/acted the lead role of Pilate in the original JCSuperstar. The producers cast Jim at his first audition, right off the “hardwood slats”.

Discovered by Lawrence Welk while touring with his band in Los Angeles,, Jim joined that ABC-TV show in the 80’s, where it has become a PBS standard, and is still the “longest-running TV Show in History“. Jim Turner led his own show at Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, Opryland and various orchestral and gospel festivals, singing for the Lord through his Troubadour-style storytelling. Please enjoy these warm, unusual gospel tunes as you listen to his music and new CDs.