Big Al Turner
I met Al at the same record fair I met Phil Tricker (and Ian Saddler). I was only a teenager at the time and now (like Paul McCartney says) I'm 64. It's been quite a journey . . .
Al introduced me to so many great records - Rock & Roll Joys on a Dess 78 being one of them - or Mother In Law Boogie on Fortune. Hard as he tried, I never quite managed to get to grips with "hillbilly" music until I was in my 40's. We were working on a definitive 4-Star discography (iwht all the EPs, ET's, AP's etc) before he became ill. I saw him 2 weeks ago and hoped that he would pull through and get himself back home. I was going to see him tomorrow as I believe it was his birthday and was going to add a few of my latest purchases to my ipod so he could listen to them.
Losing a record collector from the old day is always sad - but losing a long term friend is even harder. The laughter - the records - the endless cups of tea whilst poring over badly photocopied pages of Billboard magazines. Suddenly, it's all gone.
His blog "Hillbilly Researcher" was an eye opener - introducing me to many fine tunes. He also wrote for the Roll Street Journal with Phil and Ian, and contributed valuable info to labels like Bear Family. I remember interviewing Ronnie Dawson with him when he first come over and Al asking him about obscure artists from the Dallas area whom he hoped Ronnie had met. What a wonderful afternoon with Ronnie reminiscing about the 50's and his surprise Al knew about some of his musical friends/acquaintances who were hardly famous in their own home!
Al & Phil were also avid Starday Custom collectors - and remember both of them in PJT's kitchen playing their latest acquisitions and trying to piece together who the artist was or where they were from - who they played alongside etc. He was always emailing little snippets of info for me to add to this blog. Or ... on the phone where he'd say "Ooh Ooh Ooh . . . " when he remembered a record he just got that I needed to hear! (and then the phone line would go dead whilst I listened to him hunt through stacks of records looking for the one he wanted!).
Like Phil, Al was family in an unofficial capacity. He was always pleased to see you (me) - always jolly and informative. He and his wife Shirley would always roll out the red carpet (with endless cups of tea) whenever I managed to get a day off work to listen to some records.
I am unbelievably saddened by his passing.
I am very saddened to hear of Al's passing. He was a great guy.
ReplyDeleteThere are people who don’t just leave traces behind — they shape entire landscapes. Al Turner was one of them. For me, and for many others, he was far more than a collector, researcher, or chronicler of hillbilly and rockabilly music. He was someone whose kindness, humor, and unwavering passion held an entire scene together.
ReplyDeleteWhat always impressed me about Al was his generosity. He didn’t share his knowledge like someone guarding a treasure — he shared it like someone giving a gift. Whether you had a question about an obscure label, a forgotten 45, or a lost artist, Al responded with a warmth that showed how much joy it brought him to help others. No one was ever turned away, no one was too insignificant.
His humor was legendary. Even in serious conversations, that subtle, unmistakable British irony would shine through — one of the many things that made him so endearing. In his presence, you never felt small; you always felt welcome.
Music wasn’t just a hobby for Al — it was a living space. He knew the stories behind the stories: the people, the labels, the studios, the small coincidences that made great music possible. And he didn’t keep that knowledge to himself. He passed it on so it wouldn’t be lost. The fact that so many collectors, researchers, and enthusiasts today can rely on solid sources is, in large part, his achievement.
But beyond all his work, one thing stands out most for me: Al was a good man. Someone who lived by his convictions without preaching. Someone who laughed, listened, and helped. Someone who made the world a little brighter simply by being in it.
His passing leaves a void no one can fill. But his legacy remains — in the releases, the archives, the conversations, the memories, and in the hearts of those who knew him or were touched by his work.
Thank you, Al. For everything.
That said it much better than I ever could. Thank you.
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