Christian Turner

Legendary Muscle Shoals Engineer Teams With New Artist For Soulful Sound

SHEFFIELD, AL – For more than twenty years, folks in Muscle Shoals have tried to get Gregg Hamm out of retirement and back into the music business. The veteran sound engineer wouldn’t budge until his long time friend, songwriter Cris Moore, introduced him to a smoldering new soul artist, Christian Turner. Today, Hamm is fired up about co-producing Turner, a talent who Hamm says possesses the vocals, the look, the stage presence, and the quality to make everybody sit up and take notice. The legendary engineer thinks the time has come when people want a change in music, and “Twelve Steps From the Tip Jar” is just what the doctor ordered.

In the glory days of Muscle Shoals, when you heard the names Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett attached to a record, it was a pretty sure bet that Gregg Hamm was in the mix as well. The walls of his home studio with their myriad of gold records belie the humble demeanor of this craftsman who engineered sessions with the likes of Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Wilson Pickett, Willie Nelson, Dire Straits, Canned Heat, Levon Helm, Sam & Dave, Millie Jackson, Dr. Hook, Sister Sledge, and many more. They all attest to the fact that when a song has been “Hammered,” it’s like giving it the Midas Touch. The national anthem of rock ‘n roll, Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock ‘n Roll,” was “Hammered” in the first degree, and the engineer turn producer has worked the same magic with the Turner CD.

When you take the expertise of Hamm, the soulful Turner vocals, and the lyrical pen of co-writer, Cris Moore, you’ve got a mix to ignite an explosion of talent. Moore, no stranger to musical success, joined forces with Lee Roy Parnell to pen “Heart’s Desire” and “Tender Moment,” both of which soared up the country charts to the coveted number one slot. Writing credits on twelve other Parnell songs cite the Florence, Alabama native’s gift as a wordsmith. Adding yet another jewel to his songwriting crown, Moore just received word that a Moore/Parnell tune, “One Foot In Front Of The Other,” is included on the new George Strait album, “It Just Comes Natural,” due in stores Oct. 3rd.

An avid student of the sixties Muscle Shoals, Memphis and Motown sounds, Christian Turner has now carved out a unique vocal style that garners him fans wherever he performs. That was never more evident than when Paul Rodgers of Free, Bad Company and The Firm (now singing with Queen) handpicked Christian to be the opening act for the “Live 2002 CD/DVD” U.S. Tour. Because of an amazing set of circumstances that allowed Christian to meet his musical hero, Rodgers has also become his friend and mentor.

On September 12, 2005 Christian followed his dream to the Shoals to record his songs at the former Muscle Shoals Sound Studio on the river, now owned by Tonya Holley and her Cypress Moon Production Company. After a year of dedication and hard work, “Twelve Steps From The Tip Jar,” is ready to make its debut from 9-11:30 p.m., Saturday, September 23, 2006, in The Swamper’s Lounge at the Marriott Shoals Hotel in Florence, Alabama. . The album features local favorites Trenicia Butler, Spooner Oldham, Harvey Thompson, Bob Wray and James Counts and includes five tunes co-written with Cris Moore. Also, part of the driving force behind the Turner CD, is co-producer Papa T (guitarist and co-writer of four songs) and Florence resident Randy Bruce, who acted as assistant engineer on the project.

In January 2015 Christian recorded his latest project at the legendary FAME Studio in Muscle Shoals, Al.  This EP features Christian on vocals and acoustic guitar along with Chad Gamble on drums, Jimbo Hart on bass, Harvey Thompson, Jr. on Hammond B-3 and piano and Steve "Papa T" Turner on electric guitar.

Today Christian spends most of his time trying to maintain the delicate balance of writing new songs and performing them along with his interpretations of many hits from the 60's, 70's, 80's and even many of todays hits.