Big Joe Turner

Big Joe Turner (born Joseph Vernon Turner Jr., May 18, 1911 – November 24, 1985^[1]) was an American blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri.^[2] According to the songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him."^[2] Although he came to his greatest fame in the 1950s with his pioneering rock and roll recordings, particularly "Shake, Rattle and Roll", Turner's career as a performer stretched from the 1920s into the 1980s.^[2]

Most famous recordings

"Roll 'Em Pete" (1938) (available in many versions over the years. Used for the million-dollar first scene in Spike Lee's film, Malcolm X)^[12]
"Chains Of Love" (1951) † (this was Turner's first million seller. The song was written by 'Nugetre' (words) and Van "Piano Man" Walls (music), and the disc reached the million sales mark by 1954)^[13]
"Honey Hush" * HONEY HUSH (1953) † (Turner's second million-seller through the years, written by Turner it was credited to Lou Willie Turner)^[13]
"Shake, Rattle and Roll"*SHAKE , RATTLE AND ROLL * (1954)
"Flip Flop And Fly" (1955) † (has sold a million through the years. The song was written by Charles Calhoun and Turner, although credited to the latter's wife, Lou Willie Turner)^[13]
"Cherry Red" (1956)
"Corrine, Corrina" (1956) † (his fourth million seller; with adaption by J. Mayo Williams, Mitchell Parish and Bo Chatmon in 1932. This disc reached #41, and spent 10 weeks in the Billboard record chart)^[13]
"Wee Baby Blues" (1956) (a song Turner had been singing since his Kingfish Club days)
"Love Roller Coaster" (1956)
"Midnight Special" (1957)