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an Turner began playing an old Wurlitzer organ when he picked out the “Winston Tastes Good like a Cigarette Should” commercial at 3. Rushed directly to a local organ & piano teacher, he was the delight of his music teacher and subsequent classical instructors...until: Atlanta Nightclubs!!
His father Bud Turner owned and co-owned a few clubs in Atlanta during the 50’s and 60’s and on the occasion, the piano player would be a no-show. Bud would rush back home, sneak around the back of the house and tap on the window to wake up Dan. Dressed in a hurry and out the back door and into the wonderful world of Atlanta nightclubs; complete with comics, magicians, Flamenco dancers, some outstanding local jazz personalities and his favorites.....Exotic dancers!!
He worked the Club Peachtree, the Anchorage (now the Clermont), the Domino Lounge, the Party and the Zebra Lounge. Hidden behind an upright piano, string bass or a potted palm, he worked the circuit of clubs for three years until the law escorted him out. The laws were clear and he was almost 12 years old and not quite of age. He was more worried about his lady MARINE Corp mother finding out about his working the nightclubs (Sam Browne belts packed a wallop) than losing his happy home in the neons of downtown Atlanta on a Friday or Saturday night! Suffice to say, he was probably not nearly as worried as his father who also hoped the lady MARINE wouldn't find out!
His classical keyboard instructors found disfavor in his “bump & grind” styling of the Baroque & Romantic era piano charts. Falling asleep on Saturday morning theory classes was equally as annoying, yet getting into bed at 3am from a weekend gig would wreak havoc on music studies or Sunday school.
However, the thrills of meeting local jazzers, entertainers & exotic dancers were well worth the effort and sleep loss. Getting on the job lessons from good hearted souls like Herman Foretich, Bob Conally, Don Tweedy, Sammy Duncan, Bill Haney, Freddi DeLand, Spider Ridgeway, Paul Mitchell or Don Reitan made for some unique teen years. Instead of Beethoven, it was Dave Brubeck. Instead of the Stones, it was Horace Silver. Instead of "Morning Song", it was "Moanin'!"
He also was recently elected to the position of Vice President of the Sentimental Journey Orchestra, the premier big band of the Southeast...now in its 36th year. He was recently awarded the Blues Band of the Year award for his duo, the Brothel Blues Band while also taking home the Country Music Hall of Fame Award for piano player by the Atlanta Artists and Atlanta Society of Entertainers....along with the Lifetime Achievement award for having lived through his mother finding out about his nightclubbing days, just a few years ago. A survivor of both Edinburgh Blues Fest and North Seas Jazz Festival, he's found comfort and inspiration in the struggle for fair-play music in Atlanta.
Fifty three years behind a piano, organ or keyboard leaves a huge list of musicians, stages, bands, orchestras, combos and great times. Too numerous to mention....yet, much too important to ever forget their individual influences.
