Big Joe Turner
#85,246 Most Popular
About
Big-voiced blues and rock 'n' roll singer who rose to fame through 1950s hits such as "Shake, Rattle and Roll." He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
Before Fame
He worked as a singing bartender in Kansas City at the start of his career.
Trivia
His powerful voice and large frame earned him the nicknames Big Joe Turner and The Boss of the Blues.
Family Life
He was born Joseph Vernon Turner, Jr. in Kansas City, Missouri.
Associated With
He and pianist Pete Johnson performed together in several Kansas City nightclubs and later took their musical act to New York City.
