small:John "Honeyboy" Turner
John "Honeyboy" Turner
John Turner began playing harmonica in 1985. He became
Honeyboy Turner shortly after when he joined his first band at the age
of 17. Honeyboy got his first real taste of the blues at the tender
age of 19 while on a Nebraska Wesleyan University Orchestra tour to New
Orleans, Lousianna.
Honeyboy was playing harmonica with the Wesleyan
Jazz Band and sat in with a band at the infamous Opera House on Bourbon
Street for several songs. The positive response of the crowd was
infectious and he began his blues journey after that. He and longtime
friend and band mate Harvey Brindell put together Honeyboy Turner &
Cryin' Heart in 1991.
They toured together throughout the nineties
opening for Mighty Joe Young, James Harman, Jimmy Thackery, Magic Slim
and many others. Honeyboy embodied the spirit of the great front man
harp players that he so idolized. They released "Preachin the Blues" on
the ismest label in 1994. He learned how to be front man while hanging
out at his home base, the Legendary World Famous Zoo Bar in Lincoln. It
was while watching his idols on stage that he learned how to work the
audience and learned important playing techniques. It was at the Zoo
Bar where he met his biggest hero in 1987...Charlie Musselwhite.
Honeyboy moved to Madison Wisconsin in 1997 and joined Cadillac Joe and
the Blind Wolf Blues Band. They released an album and quickly began
getting attention in Madison. It was while living in Madison that he
met the legendary David "Honeyboy" Edwards and finally received the
blessing to use his name. Honeyboy moved back to Lincoln in 2000 and had
a short run with a band called the Blues Cruisers who jammed with Magic
Slim, Nick Holt and Chubby Carrier. During his playing with the
Cruisers, he joined forces with Sean Benjamin and recorded Sean's
fantastic self-titled CD "Big Highways" on Quadratone Records. Their
harmonica and guitar duo were featured on the nationally syndicated
radio program called River City Folk with Tom May.
Honeyboy and Harvey joined forces again in 2011 to form the
Honeyboy Turner Band (HBT). The HBT has become the hardest working
Nebraska Blues band with a consistently busy schedule. With the Zoo Bar
in Lincoln as their home base they continue to gain popularity locally
and regionally as fans and other musicians keep coming back for more.
They self produced and released their second CD in 2013 called Billiard
Playing Mama. The HBT has become the back up band for West Side
Chicago Guitartist Rockin Johnny Burgin when he comes to town and has
since backed up Chicago Blues Legends, The Taildragger and Mary Lane.
Delmark recording artist and Chicago blues harp master Martin Lang
described Honeyboy's playing as "dynamic". Dynamic describes his
ability to front a band and bring several harp playing styles to his
shows.
Honeyboy's reputation continues to bring in collaborative
opportunities. In May 2014, Honeyboy will perform with harmonica
masters Deak Harp and Mitch Kashmar in Lincoln.
It is evident when
listening to Honeyboy's playing that he was inspired by William Clark,
Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter, Junior Wells, James Cotton, James
Harman and many more players. From old school Chicago harp, delta blues
to West Coast swing, Honeyboy's harmonica playing brings an attack that
keeps his fans entertained and wanting more.
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