Ted Turner (guitarist)

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Ted Turner
Birth nameDavid Alan Turner
Born (1950-08-02) 2 August 1950 (age 73)
Birmingham, England
Genres Rock, progressive rock, blues art rock, new age soul
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1969–present
Website tedturnerandmajella.com

David Alan "Ted" Turner (born 2 August 1950) is an English guitarist and vocalist best known for his work with the 1970s rock band Wishbone Ash, in which he was famed for his twin lead guitar instrumental arrangements with Andy Powell. Turner also contributed lap steel guitar to a variety of Wishbone Ash recordings. [1] [2]

Contents

Career

Pre-Wishbone Ash

Prior to Wishbone Ash, Turner played with the Birmingham band, King Biscuit.

Wishbone Ash

Turner joined Wishbone Ash in 1969. Extensive touring followed, whilst also recording the albums Wishbone Ash, Pilgrimage, and the acclaimed Argus; winning 'best album of the year' in 1972. Ted left the band after their fourth album, Wishbone Four , in 1974.

His main guitar during this period was a Gibson Les Paul. He also used a Fender Stratocaster and vintage lap steel guitars. Wishbone Ash also used the early Orange/Matamp amplifiers during this period.

In 1971, Turner was invited to play on John Lennon's Imagine , on "Crippled Inside" and "How Do You Sleep", playing acoustic guitar on both tracks. Other sessions included artists Cilla Black, George Harrison and Al Stewart.

Post-Wishbone Ash

In the spring of 1974, Ted left Wishbone Ash and the music business to travel the world. By 1975 he had found his way to New Orleans and into the 'World Man Band' project, an attempt to raise global consciousness through rock music based upon information from R. Buckminster Fuller working with Michael Mitchell. Later that same year, Turner moved to Los Angeles to write record music with a friend Tom Gebr also known as Songwriter Tom MacLear.

In 1980, Turner returned to England and did studio work with Stewart Copeland, Gene October, and Brian James. The next year found him once again in the United States, where he married and formed a new band called Choice. Choice featured Greg Cook (guitars, keyboards, and vocals), Robbie Hewlett (bass guitar) and Bobby Dean Wickland (drums). In 1982, Ted joined Joey Molland's Badfinger and toured the country with them.

From 1983 to 1985, Turner was involved in various recording projects. In 1985 he moved to Chicago, recorded with various artistes including Sugar Blue - a blues harmonica player, used by The Rolling Stones on their hit song Miss You.

Rejoining Wishbone Ash

In 1987, he rejoined Wishbone Ash and with them recorded Nouveau Calls for Miles Copeland III's No Speak label. In the spring of 1988, the original Wishbone Ash toured England and Europe for the first time in 15 years, and in the autumn of that year, Turner and Andy Powell were invited to join Copeland's Night of the Guitar Tour. That group included such guitar legends as Randy California, Peter Haycock, Steve Howe, Steve Hunter, Robby Krieger, Leslie West, Alvin Lee and Jan Akkerman.

Later work

Turner continued to tour and record with Wishbone Ash recording Here to Hear in 1989, Strange Affair in 1991, and Live in Chicago in 1992, until 1994 when he once again decided to depart. In that same year, he suffered – and witnessed – the loss of his son Kipp, who was killed by a drunk driver in Scottsdale, Arizona. He now has a daughter Sloane. He has also made guest appearances with Martin Turner's band. Martin Turner (no relation) was also a founding original member of Wishbone Ash, bassist/vocalist. This included a performance at the High Voltage Festival in London's Victoria Park in July 2010. There were other festival appearances in Japan and Mexico. Also, an appearance with Andy Powell’s band at Ashcon.

In February 2014 Ted married Majella. A gifted singer-songwriter, and in the spring of 2018 released their first musical collaboration Better Together, receiving international acclaim and the birth of a new musical genre 'New Age Soul'. The album was nominated for 'best album of the year 2018' by Get Ready To Rock Radio, one of the major U.K. stations. A second album Divine Timing was released 21 December 2021, adding to their increasing popularity.

Recognition

He has been voted one of Rolling Stone's 'Top Twenty Rock Guitarists of All Time', and named by Traffic magazine as "one of the most important guitarists in rock history".[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wishbone Ash</span> British rock band

Wishbone Ash are a British rock band who achieved success in the early to mid-1970s. Their albums include Wishbone Ash (1970), Pilgrimage (1971), Argus (1972), Wishbone Four (1973), There's the Rub (1974), and New England (1976).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Powell</span> Musical artist (b. 1950)

Andrew Powell is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is a founding member of the British band Wishbone Ash, whose use of twin lead guitars was influential.

<i>Wishbone Ash</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash is the first studio album by Wishbone Ash. It peaked at number 29 in the UK Albums Chart in January 1971.

<i>Pilgrimage</i> (Wishbone Ash album) 1971 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Pilgrimage is the second studio album by the rock band Wishbone Ash. The album focuses more on folk and acoustic music as opposed to the blues rock sound that dominated the first album. The album also contains the instrumental jazz workout "Vas Dis" as well as moodier, slower instrumentals such as "Alone" and "Lullaby".

<i>Argus</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Wishbone Ash

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<i>Wishbone Four</i> 1973 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Four is the fourth studio album by British rock band Wishbone Ash, released in 1973. It was a departure from their previous album, Argus, in that it lacked that recording's overall cohesion and atmosphere and the loose conceptual framework of a stately, pastoral and warring medieval England. Containing only hints of the extended twin-lead guitar harmonies, Wishbone Four's stylistic variety found its footing in acoustic folk elements in half of the eight-song set, two aggressive and melodic starters on each side of the vinyl release, and the band's first use of horns on the semi-autobiographical "rave-up" touring song "No Easy Road".

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<i>Theres the Rub</i> 1974 studio album by Wishbone Ash

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<i>Locked In</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Locked In is the sixth studio album by the rock band Wishbone Ash, and their second with guitarist Laurie Wisefield who had joined the band in 1974. The album peaked at No. 36 in the UK Albums Chart in April 1976, their lowest UK chart placing to date. Considered by many, including the band themselves, to be one of the weaker entries in their extensive catalog. The band frequently place the blame on producer Tom Dowd, who insisted the band play much quieter in the studio, removing much of the energy of their performances. The band had switched U.S. distribution from MCA Records to Atlantic Records for this and the next release, New England.

<i>New England</i> (Wishbone Ash album) 1976 studio album by Wishbone Ash

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<i>No Smoke Without Fire</i> 1978 studio album by Wishbone Ash

No Smoke Without Fire is the ninth studio album by English rock band Wishbone Ash. It was the first album since 1972's Argus to be produced by Derek Lawrence. The album peaked at No. 43 in the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Just Testing</i> 1980 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Just Testing is the tenth studio album by the British rock band Wishbone Ash, released on 18 January 1980 by MCA Records. Recorded primarily at Surrey Sound Studios in England, it was the last to feature the original lead vocalist and bass guitarist Martin Turner until the release of Nouveau Calls (1987). The track "Helpless" is only the second cover version released by the band on a studio album, the previous one being "Vas Dis" on Pilgrimage.

<i>Number the Brave</i> 1981 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Number the Brave is the 11th studio album by rock band Wishbone Ash. It is the first album in the band's history recorded without founding bassist/vocalist Martin Turner. Turner was replaced by John Wetton, formerly of King Crimson and Uriah Heep. Also featured on Number the Brave was singer Claire Hamill as a backing vocalist, who would join Wishbone Ash on the 1981 tour to promote the album. Following "Vas Dis" on Pilgrimage and "Helpless" on Just Testing, the album featured only the third cover version released by the band on a studio album, Smokey Robinson's "Get Ready", previously a hit for The Temptations.

<i>Strange Affair</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Wishbone Ash

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Turner</span> Musical artist

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References

  1. Hill, Gary. Ted Turner at Allmusic
  2. Cromelin, Richard. Argus album review [ dead link ], Rolling Stone, 17 August 1972