Jesse Lee Turner

Last updated
Jesse Lee Turner
Born1938
Genres
Years active1958–present

Jesse Lee Turner (born 1938) [1] is a former American singer. He recorded songs for several labels in the late 1950s, including the one-hit wonder "Little Space Girl". [2]

Turner was born in Addicks, Texas, United States, and graduated from high school in Boling, Texas. [3] His first recording was the single "Teenage Misery" for Fraternity Records. [3] In 1958, he released the single "Little Space Girl" b/w "Shake Baby Shake" on Carlton Records; the tune hit No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was No. 5 for 2 weeks on Canada's CHUM Chart in 1959. [2] [4] [5] The follow-up "Thinkin'" failed to chart, and Turner switched to Top Rank Records to release "Do I Worry", which also sold poorly. [3] Moving to Sudden Records, he wrote and issued "The Elopers" to no success; GNP Records also released "Ballad of Billy Sol Estes" and a second single. [2]

In 1978, Turner produced, wrote, and starred in the Smokey and the Bandit-inspired comedy western, Smokey and the Good Time Outlaws. Turner composed and performed several songs in the film, which was initially released to drive-ins as J.D and the Salt Flat Kid; his co-star was mainstay exploitation film actor, Dennis Fimple and country music star, Dianne Sherrill. [6]

Turner's output comprises 15 known songs; most of which have been reissued on the CD, Shake, Baby, Shake. He currently lives in Texas. [3]

References

  1. ↑ "JESSE LEE TURNER". Rockabilly.nl. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 457. ISBN   1-85227-937-0.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Jesse Lee Turner | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  4. ↑ "CHUM Hit Parade - February 16, 1959".
  5. ↑ "CHUM Hit Parade - February 23, 1959".
  6. ↑ Francis, R.D. "Just a Good Ol' Boy Never Meanin' No Harm: The Music, Life and Times of Jesse Lee Turner A review of his 1978 film, 'Smokey and the Good Time Outlaws,' and an examination of '70s southern-fried hicksploitation cinema". Medium.


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