Charles Henry Turner (May 26, 1936 – May 19, 2006) was an American

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trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...

er. Turner performed with Frank Sinatra for eight years, as well as

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

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and many other great musicians of the 20th century. In a career spanning over thirty years, he played lead trumpet for jazz bands, Las Vegas show bands, and Los Angeles studio Orchestras.

Biography

Charles Henry Turner was born to Charles Rodgers Turner and Norma (Durrance) Turner in 1936. Growing up in rural

Bunnell, Florida Bunnell is the county seat of Flagler County Florida, United States, with a population of 2,676 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach, FL metropolitan statistical area and is named after an early resi ...

as an only child, Charlie showed exceptional talent at an early age. After picking up the trumpet at 10 years of age he progressed rapidly as he played in junior high and high school bands. During his Bunnell High School years he also began to visit Florida State University, and played in FSU's Summer Band Camp Program until he graduated from Bunnell High in 1953. Charles officially enrolled in Florida State University in 1954. Charlie was an outstanding performer in the FSU College of Music, taking lead roles in the Symphonic Band, Marching Chiefs, Symphonic Orchestra, Circus Band and a variety of other FSU music ensembles such as the Commodores. He attended FSU from 1954-1959. Toward the end of his years at FSU, Charlie began to pick up jobs playing with outside orchestras, and it wasn't long before Charlie had left FSU and was playing with the show bands of Las Vegas. Charlie's horn was soon leading such stellar bands as

, and

. He also played with the

Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891. The ensemble makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival. The music director is Riccardo Muti, who began his tenu ...

Years with Frank Sinatra

In 1975 Frank Sinatra heard Charlie play and asked him to play lead trumpet for his band. Charlie went on to play for Sinatra from 1975 to 1983. He not only played in Sinatra's big band but also in his smaller tour band consisting of drums, bass, piano, sax and trumpet. This core group traveled with Sinatra all over the world on European, Middle Eastern, North African and South American tours. During this time in his career, Charlie played for presidential inaugurations, the Queen of the United Kingdom and many performances at Carnegie Hall. Sinatra respected Charlie's talent enormously and featured him on solo performances. Not only did Charlie play for royalty, presidents and dignitaries but also played and sometimes recorded for entertainers such as

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, Ingrid Bergman,

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, Andy Williams, Milton Berle,

, Debbie Reynolds, Robert Goulet,

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, Jerry Lewis,

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, John Denver,

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and

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. Around 1984, as Frank Sinatra continued to tour the world at a frantic pace, Charlie decided he wanted to record his own album featuring songs out of the Sinatra song book that featured his trumpet. He asked Sinatra for permission to record his songs, to which Sinatra replied ‘I’ll do better than that. I’ll direct the orchestra.’ The album was titled ''What’s New'' and featured music arranged by Sinatra's own great arrangers Billy May, Nelson Riddle and

Don Costa Dominick P. "Don" Costa (June 10, 1925 – January 19, 1983) was an American conductor and record producer. He discovered singer Paul Anka and worked on several hit albums by Frank Sinatra, including ''Sinatra and Strings'' and '' My Way''. ...

. Even though the album was not a commercial success it was widely acclaimed by critics and jazz lovers.

Turner's interests

Charlie Turner had a wide range of interests and hobbies besides music. These included flying (he owned a Piper Cub and often flew with John Denver), photography, tennis, raising great schnauzer show dogs (he named one of his dogs Ava Gardner after his friend), and cooking (he competed with his neighbor Wayne Newton as to who could cook the best bread). Additionally he was a prolific reader, a great pool player, and an expert marksman (but refused to hunt animals).

End of life

Toward the end of his life Charlie moved back to Bunnell, Florida and suffered from diabetes and depression. In the 1990s he began working on a book of his memoirs and recollections of his years in music but never quite finished that project. Charlie Turner died May 19, 2006, just a week shy of his 70th birthday. His mother, Norma Turner, generously donated many of his scores and arrangements to the FSU College of Music, as well as memorabilia and one of his instruments. A collection of his scores and memorabilia is held at the Warren D. Allen Music Library at Florida State University.

Discography

* ''What's New: Charles Turner, trumpet: conducted by Frank Sinatra:'' arranged by Billy May, Nelson Riddle, and Don Costa. Las Vegas, Nevada: Chas Records, 1983. * '' Dream Dancing'' (

Pablo Pablo is a Spanish form of the name Paul. People *Pablo Alborán, Spanish singer *Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer * Pablo Armero, Colombian footballer * Pablo Bartholomew, Indian photojournalist * Pablo Brandán, Argentine footballer * Pablo Br ...

,1978) * '' Sinatra: Vegas'' (1978 re-issued Reprise 2006).

References

*"Time with Sinatra "a dream,"" Flagler/Palm Coast News-Tribune (Saturday, June 6, 1998), page 4A.

External links

Warren D. Allen Music Library at Florida State University.

Description of the Charles H. Turner Collection at Florida State University. {{DEFAULTSORT:Turner, Charles American jazz trumpeters American male trumpeters Swing trumpeters Florida State University alumni Mainstream jazz trumpeters Count Basie Orchestra members 1936 births 2006 deaths People from Bunnell, Florida American male jazz musicians 20th-century American male musicians