Bluestrummisen Uncle John Turner är död
08:22 AM CDT on Saturday, July 28, 2007
The Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas – Blues drummer "Uncle" John Turner, who played with guitarist Johnny Winter, died Thursday at an Austin hospital. He was 62.
Mr. Turner died from complications of hepatitis C, said Mark Murray, a family friend.
With Mr. Winter, Mr. Turner performed at Woodstock in 1969. He split with Mr. Winter in 1970 and joined Krackerjack, which featured the late Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar.
Bass player Tommy Shannon gave Mr. Turner the nickname "Uncle" because of his willingness to drive his bandmates to gigs and take care of business affairs, said Mr. Murray, chief meteorologist at Austin television station KVUE.
"Everybody called him Uncle John Turner, or just Unc," Mr. Murray said.
Mr. Turner played or recorded with artists including B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Freddie King, Muddy Waters and Lightnin' Hopkins.
He grew up in Port Arthur, where he started his musical career on guitar before switching to bass. He began playing drums in a band called the Nightlights.
A benefit to raise money for Mr. Turner's medical bills and assist young artists on Wednesday at Antone's nightclub will now become a celebration of his life, Mr. Murray said. A public memorial will be later.
Survivors include his wife, Morgan.
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Pelle " Greppet" Lindberg
http://www.pellelindberg.com"Blues From The South"
