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About The Artist
The "Singing River Boy" as they called Jack Turner came fromHaleyville, Alabama. Jack's fater was S.W. Turner, a conductoron the I.C. Railroad.
Jack made his first public appearance when he was six years oldand sang at a county wide gathering that encompassed allWinston County schools. They say he wore that blue ribbon on his overalls button til it wore out. His mom gave him a ukelele when he was seven and in a couple years, he got his first guitar, an $8.00 special. Where he lived, there were many good fiddle players and before long, Jack could 'second' tothe old-time breakdowns. (If you read some of the books about country music history,you'll find that Alabama had quite a history of country fiddlers.)
Jack had another artistic bent to him. He also enjoyed painting and drawing. His parents often wondered what to makeof his varied interests and which way he would turn. He just aboutalmost chose the artist in him as a career. After he graduated fromhigh school, he headed up to Nasvhille to enroll in an advertisingart school. However, the very first Saturday he was there, he wentto WSM's Grand Ole Opry and the itch to sang came back again. Andsomehow, he managed to work both loves into his life.
Early 1942 saw some changes in Jack's life. He met a gal namedLorene Davidson who was from northern Alabama. Later, he enrolledin the US Navy. While there, he formed a hillbilly band and entertainedhis fellow troops. He also kept up his artistic work by drawingcharts and illustrations along with his regular duties as Yeoman.
When he got out of the service, he moved his family to Montgomery,Alabama. By then, he had two daughters, Jacqueline and Dixilyn.He got work as an artist-illustrator at the Air University atMaxwell AFB. And also hooked up with a local radio station, too, butthey don't mention which one. If he had any spare time, he spent itcomposing songs and taking private lessons in portrait painting. Notto mention taking an ICS course in commercial art, selling vacuumcleaners part-time and accepting commissions to do portraits.
Television came to Montgomery like it did to many cities back then.And Jack auditioned and became a regular member of the first Saturdaynight hillbilly program, "Bar Twenty" that aired over WCOV-TV. He stayed with that for several months. He was turning to music and singingmore and more it seems. When WBAM radio came on the air, Jack was a guest on Shorty Sullivan's first "Deep South Jamboree" program and had stayed with them it appears through the mid-1950s. Jackeventually got his own show on WBAM and signed on with the RCA Victor record label in 1954. Some of the releases he had back then included:"Shoot I Reckon I Love You" backed with "Walkin' A Chalk Line"; "If ICould Only Win Your Love" backed with "I'm Getting Married Tonight".
Credits & Sources
Cowboy Songs Number 39; February 1955; American Folk Publications, Inc.Derby, CT.
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Jack Turner, the "Singing River Boy"
Jack Turner, also known as the "Singing River Boy," was from Haleyville, Alabama. His father, S.W. Turner, worked as a conductor on the I.C. Railroad. At the age of six, Jack made his first public appearance and sang at a county-wide gathering that included all Winston County schools. He wore a blue ribbon on his overalls button, which he received at the event.
Jack's Musical Journey
Jack's musical journey began when his mother gave him a ukulele at the age of seven. A few years later, he acquired his first guitar, an $8.00 special. Living in an area with many talented fiddle players, Jack learned to "second" to old-time breakdowns. Alabama has a rich history of country fiddlers, as documented in books about country music history.
Jack's Artistic Interests
In addition to his musical talents, Jack also had a passion for painting and drawing. His parents were unsure which path he would choose, whether it be music or art. After graduating from high school, Jack initially enrolled in an advertising art school in Nashville. However, after attending WSM's Grand Ole Opry on his first Saturday in Nashville, his desire to sing resurfaced. He managed to incorporate both his love for art and music into his life.
Jack's Life Changes
In early 1942, Jack's life took a turn when he met Lorene Davidson, a woman from northern Alabama. He later enlisted in the US Navy, where he formed a hillbilly band and entertained his fellow troops. Jack also continued his artistic work by drawing charts and illustrations alongside his regular duties as a Yeoman. After leaving the service, he moved his family to Montgomery, Alabama, where he worked as an artist-illustrator at the Air University at Maxwell AFB. He also became involved with a local radio station and composed songs in his spare time. Jack's musical career gained traction when he became a regular member of the first Saturday night hillbilly program, "Bar Twenty," which aired over WCOV-TV. He later joined WBAM radio and signed with the RCA Victor record label in 1954.
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