Richard Turner and his brother Britt co-founded Blackberry Smoke, the Atlanta-based band. He is considered one of the best bass guitarists still performing in the southern rock genre.
Richard, who grew up in a military family, started his musical journey during the rise of the southern rock era. One of his more fortunate experiences involved his family’s time in the Philippines. “I was exposed to a lot of indigenous music overseas,” Richard explained. He learned to play the clarinet in grade school. However, not wanting to constantly face the jocks who pick on band nerds, Richard decided rock and roll was a more rewarding musical journey.
Blackberry Smoke bass player & co-founder, Richard Turner.
When he asked his parents for a bass guitar, they gave him a regular guitar instead. Finding the six-string instrument either too challenging or rather, uninteresting, Richard decided to trade the guitar for a dirt-track bicycle. Eventually, he sold the bicycle and used the money to buy his first bass guitar.
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In their twenties, Richard and his brother Brit lived in a rehearsal warehouse in Atlanta. “We have absolutely no money,” said Richard. “We roamed the halls looking for bands that we felt had talent. Basically, anything that could get us a job playing music.” It was there the brothers met their frontman, Charlie Starr.
When the duo landed a job playing in a band Charlie was in, they accepted a gig in Texas. Playing alongside their buddies in the Black Crowes, a problem with a 9-volt battery turned turned the performance into a disaster. On the long van ride back to Georgia, Richard and Brit decided to exit the band. Fortunately, Charlie felt. the same way, giving rise to Blackberry Smoke.
Much has changed since Richard discovered his love for southern rock in the late 1970s. Today Blackberry Smoke has 24 years and 10 albums under their belt. While the days of playing 150 plus shows a year are over, the band remains a major draw.
Meeting Richard backstage at a Topeka outdoor festival in Miramar Beach, FL, I asked for the opportunity to record a podcast episode. Besides discussing his formative years of playing music, Richard also talks about his bass guitar equipment, recording Blackberry Smoke albums, and his fascination with great bass players like Carol Kaye, Leland Sklar, and Getty Lee.
You can listen to this Southern Americana episode in the link above or on Apple and Spotify.