Fred Turner (musician)
Encyclopedia
Charles Frederick "Fred" Turner (b. 16 October 1943 in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
) is a Canadian rock bassist, vocalist and songwriter, and was a founding member of the 1970s rock
band Bachman–Turner Overdrive (B.T.O.). He is credited on early Bachman–Turner Overdrive and B.T.O. albums as "C.F. Turner".
s in and around Winnipeg during his early adult years, his first vocal recordings being with the group Pink Plumm, which released one independent single. Based upon advice Randy Bachman
received from Neil Young
, Turner was subsequently asked to join Randy's band Brave Belt
in 1971. At the time, Turner was playing and singing in a cover band called the D-Drifters. The D-Drifters wanted to continue doing cover songs, and had repeatedly rejected Turner's original compositions. When the call came from Bachman, Turner jumped at the chance to join a band that would give him an opportunity to play original material.
The lead vocalist for the first Brave Belt album was Chad Allan
, Randy Bachman's former bandmate from The Guess Who
. When Allan departed shortly after the album's release, Turner stepped in as a full-time lead vocalist and bassist. Brave Belt would later become known as Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO). While Randy Bachman was the more widely-known name because of his years with The Guess Who, Robbie Bachman
stated in numerous interviews that there could have been no "BTO sound" without Turner's contributions: "The first Brave Belt albums were very country-rock. Everything changed when Fred joined the band. We had Fred Turner's heavy, rough voice. We evolved because of Mr. Turner."
When Randy Bachman left Bachman–Turner Overdrive in late 1977, Turner switched from bass to rhythm guitar to make room for bassist–vocalist Jim Clench
. This new line-up for 1978-79 was only called B.T.O. and nothing else, due to legal issues surrounding the use of the Bachman surname. Turner resumed his original role on the bass when Bachman–Turner Overdrive re-formed in 1983.
Turner is the lead vocalist on many of Bachman–Turner Overdrive's most popular tracks, including "Roll on Down the Highway," "Let It Ride," "Blue Collar," "Four Wheel Drive" and "Not Fragile." His songwriting credits include "Gimme Your Money Please," "Blue Collar," "Not Fragile," "Take It Like a Man" (with Blair Thornton), "Let it Ride" (with Randy Bachman) and "Roll on Down the Highway" (with Robbie Bachman).
Turner recorded a solo song for the Animal Magnetism CD called "Walk With You" in 1996. The Animal Magnetism album was put together by Riff West. Other musicians that recorded songs for this album include Lonesome Dave Peverett
of Foghat
, Pat Travers
, and Edgar Winter
. Among his other accomplishments not related to music, Turner also gained local notoriety as a successful real estate agent in Winnipeg. In 2000, he made a voice appearance with Randy Bachman on an episode of The Simpsons.
Turner's last performance on stage with any formation of BTO was in 2004 with Randy Murray. The two were backed by members of the Little River Band
because drummer Robbie Bachman
and guitarist Blair Thornton
were unable to attend BTO's last show. Turner is the only member of Bachman–Turner Overdrive to be on every album the band released.
that was released in September, 2010 under the name "Bachman & Turner."
Bachman and Turner are now in the midst of a 2010-11 world tour in support of their 2010 album. The B&T world tour opened in June 2010 at the Sweden
Rock Festival. The two founding members' newest album is a return to the full, rich rock sounds of the seventies, and they have stated it is the "missing album" of that BTO era. Other early confirmed dates include the High Voltage Festival in London, England, the Manitoba Homecoming Festival in Winnipeg, and several more dates in the United States and Canada. Continuing tour announcements are posted at www.bachmanandturner.com.
Live albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
) is a Canadian rock bassist, vocalist and songwriter, and was a founding member of the 1970s rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Bachman–Turner Overdrive (B.T.O.). He is credited on early Bachman–Turner Overdrive and B.T.O. albums as "C.F. Turner".
History
Fred Turner played in over a dozen bandBand (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
s in and around Winnipeg during his early adult years, his first vocal recordings being with the group Pink Plumm, which released one independent single. Based upon advice Randy Bachman
Randy Bachman
Randolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
received from Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, Turner was subsequently asked to join Randy's band Brave Belt
Brave Belt
Brave Belt was a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba originally consisting of Randy Bachman , his former The Guess Who bandmate, Chad Allan , and Randy's brother Robbie . Randy also provided bass tracks for the recording of the band's first album, Brave Belt I . But C. F...
in 1971. At the time, Turner was playing and singing in a cover band called the D-Drifters. The D-Drifters wanted to continue doing cover songs, and had repeatedly rejected Turner's original compositions. When the call came from Bachman, Turner jumped at the chance to join a band that would give him an opportunity to play original material.
The lead vocalist for the first Brave Belt album was Chad Allan
Chad Allan (musician)
Chad Allan is a Canadian musician and founding member of The Guess Who. He was the group's original lead singer and front man, as well as rhythm guitarist, songwriter and occasionally drummer and pianist....
, Randy Bachman's former bandmate from The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
. When Allan departed shortly after the album's release, Turner stepped in as a full-time lead vocalist and bassist. Brave Belt would later become known as Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO). While Randy Bachman was the more widely-known name because of his years with The Guess Who, Robbie Bachman
Robbie Bachman
Robin "Robbie" Bachman is a drummer and the youngest brother of Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter Randy Bachman. He was the original drummer for both the Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive bands.While growing up, Bachman practiced the drums at home, often playing along with his older...
stated in numerous interviews that there could have been no "BTO sound" without Turner's contributions: "The first Brave Belt albums were very country-rock. Everything changed when Fred joined the band. We had Fred Turner's heavy, rough voice. We evolved because of Mr. Turner."
When Randy Bachman left Bachman–Turner Overdrive in late 1977, Turner switched from bass to rhythm guitar to make room for bassist–vocalist Jim Clench
Jim Clench
Jim Clench , was a Canadian bassist best known for his roles in the Canadian rock bands April Wine and Bachman–Turner Overdrive.- With April Wine :...
. This new line-up for 1978-79 was only called B.T.O. and nothing else, due to legal issues surrounding the use of the Bachman surname. Turner resumed his original role on the bass when Bachman–Turner Overdrive re-formed in 1983.
Turner is the lead vocalist on many of Bachman–Turner Overdrive's most popular tracks, including "Roll on Down the Highway," "Let It Ride," "Blue Collar," "Four Wheel Drive" and "Not Fragile." His songwriting credits include "Gimme Your Money Please," "Blue Collar," "Not Fragile," "Take It Like a Man" (with Blair Thornton), "Let it Ride" (with Randy Bachman) and "Roll on Down the Highway" (with Robbie Bachman).
Turner recorded a solo song for the Animal Magnetism CD called "Walk With You" in 1996. The Animal Magnetism album was put together by Riff West. Other musicians that recorded songs for this album include Lonesome Dave Peverett
Dave Peverett
David Peverett or Lonesome Dave was a British musician. He is best known as the original singer and rhythm guitarist of Foghat, which he founded following his tenure in Savoy Brown....
of Foghat
Foghat
Foghat are a British rock band that had their peak success in the mid- to late-1970s. Their style can be described as "blues-rock," or boogie-rock dominated by electric and electric slide guitar. The band has achieved five gold records...
, Pat Travers
Pat Travers
Patrick Henry "Pat" Travers is a Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist and singer who began his recording career with Polydor Records in the mid-1970s...
, and Edgar Winter
Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
. Among his other accomplishments not related to music, Turner also gained local notoriety as a successful real estate agent in Winnipeg. In 2000, he made a voice appearance with Randy Bachman on an episode of The Simpsons.
Turner's last performance on stage with any formation of BTO was in 2004 with Randy Murray. The two were backed by members of the Little River Band
Little River Band
Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only...
because drummer Robbie Bachman
Robbie Bachman
Robin "Robbie" Bachman is a drummer and the youngest brother of Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter Randy Bachman. He was the original drummer for both the Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive bands.While growing up, Bachman practiced the drums at home, often playing along with his older...
and guitarist Blair Thornton
Blair Thornton
Blair Thornton is a rock guitarist and songwriter most widely known for his work with the Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive . He also played in the Vancouver-based band Crosstown Bus prior to joining BTO.Thornton was recruited by BTO to replace founding member Tim Bachman, who left the...
were unable to attend BTO's last show. Turner is the only member of Bachman–Turner Overdrive to be on every album the band released.
2010 Bachman and Turner reunion
Turner reunited with Randy Bachman and recorded a new self-titled albumBachman & Turner (Album)
- Bachman & Turner :* Randy Bachman – Composer, Guitar, Vocals, Producer* Fred Turner – Composer, Bass Guitar, Vocals* Mick Dalla-Vee – Guitar, Background Vocals* Brent Knudson – Guitar, Background Vocals* Marc LaFrance – Drums, Background Vocals...
that was released in September, 2010 under the name "Bachman & Turner."
Bachman and Turner are now in the midst of a 2010-11 world tour in support of their 2010 album. The B&T world tour opened in June 2010 at the Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Rock Festival. The two founding members' newest album is a return to the full, rich rock sounds of the seventies, and they have stated it is the "missing album" of that BTO era. Other early confirmed dates include the High Voltage Festival in London, England, the Manitoba Homecoming Festival in Winnipeg, and several more dates in the United States and Canada. Continuing tour announcements are posted at www.bachmanandturner.com.
Awards and recognition and other achievements
- 1974: Juno AwardJuno AwardThe Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
winner, Most Promising Group Of The Year - 1975: Juno Award winner, Group Of The Year
- 1976: Juno Award winner, Group Of The Year
- 1978: Juno Award nomination, Group Of The Year
- 2008: Guitar Magazine, Takin' Care of Business rated at number 10 in top 100 most covered songs
- 2009: iTunes, Takin' Care Of Business is the most downloaded song on iTunes
Discography
Studio albums| Year | Title | U.S. certification | Chart number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Bachman–Turner Overdrive | Gold | 70 |
| 1973 | Bachman–Turner Overdrive II | Platinum | 4 |
| 1974 | Not Fragile Not Fragile Not Fragile is the third album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1974 . The title could be thought of as a response to Yes' Fragile. Some feel that the group achieved a more original sound in this album; it has been described as a cross between Mountain and early ZZ Top... |
Platinum | 1 |
| 1975 | Four Wheel Drive | Gold | 5 |
| 1975 | Head On | Gold | 21 |
| 1977 | Freeways Freeways (album) Freeways is an album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1977. It was the last album that Randy Bachman would be a part of with BTO until the "reunion" in 1983. This is also the last studio album to be made with the classic and successful "Not Fragile" line up... |
- | 70 |
| 1978 | Street Action Street Action Street Action is an album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive , released in 1978, . It was the first BTO album released after the 1977 departure of co-founder Randy Bachman, and had a distinctively heavier sound than the previous two BTO studio albums... |
- | 135 |
| 1979 | Rock n' Roll Nights Rock n' Roll Nights Rock n' Roll Nights is a studio album by Canadian rock band BTO, released in 1979 . This album was one of three BTO albums that did not feature co-founder Randy Bachman. Rock n' Roll Nights is also one of the two albums from this band to feature Jim Clench, formerly of April Wine... |
- | 165 |
| 1984 | Bachman–Turner Overdrive | - | 87 |
| 1996 | Trial By Fire: Greatest and Latest | - | - |
| 2010 | Bachman & Turner | - | - |
Live albums
| Year | Title | U.S. certification | Chart number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | BTO Live - Japan Tour BTO Live - Japan Tour BTO Live - Japan Tour is an album containing live recordings from a 1976 Bachman–Turner Overdrive Japan tour concert.This album was only issued in Japan and Canada. It was never released on CD and is a very rare find on vinyl.... |
- | - |
| 1986 | Live Live Live Live Live Live Live! Live! Live! is an album containing live recordings from 1985 Bachman–Turner Overdrive concerts in Tallahassee, FL and Detroit, MI. It was recorded with the lineup from the Bachman–Turner Overdrive 1984 reunion album. It features the previously unreleased track, "Fragile Man," which is... |
- | - |
| 1994 | Best of Bachman–Turner Overdrive Live | - | - |
| 1997 | Motorcity Detroit USA Live | - | - |
| 1998 | King Biscuit Flower Hour: Bachman–Turner Overdrive | - | - |
Compilation albums
| Year | Title | U.S. certification | Chart number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Best of BTO (So Far) Best of BTO (So Far) Best of BTO is a compilation album that contains material released on Bachman–Turner Overdrive's first five studio albums... |
2x Platinum | - |
| 1983 | You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (album) You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet is a compilation album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive. It was released in 1983 by Polygram Records.-Track listing:#"Four Wheel Drive" #"She's a Devil"... |
- | - |
| 1986 | BTO's Greatest BTO's Greatest BTO's Greatest is a U.S. CD Only compilation album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive. It was released in 1986 by Mercury Records.-Track listing:#"Looking Out for #1" - 5:20#"Roll on Down the Highway" - 3:55... |
Gold | - |
| 1993 | The Anthology | - | - |
| 1998 | Takin' Care Of Business Takin' Care of Business "Takin' Care of Business" is a song written by Randy Bachman and first recorded by Canadian rock group Bachman–Turner Overdrive for their 1973 album Bachman–Turner Overdrive II.-Development:... |
- | - |
| 2000 | 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Bachman–Turner Overdrive | Gold | - |
| 2001 | The Very Best Of Bachman–Turner Overdrive | - | - |
| 2005 | Bachman Turner Overdrive Gold Bachman Turner Overdrive Gold Bachman–Turner Overdrive Gold is a compilation album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive. It was released in 2005 by Mercury Records.-Track listing:Disc One#"Gimme Your Money Please"... |
- | - |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | "Blue Collar" | Rock Singles | 68 |
| 1974 | "Let It Ride" | Pop Singles | 23 |
| 1974 | "Takin’ Care of Business Takin' Care of Business "Takin' Care of Business" is a song written by Randy Bachman and first recorded by Canadian rock group Bachman–Turner Overdrive for their 1973 album Bachman–Turner Overdrive II.-Development:... " |
12 | |
| 1974 | "Roll On Down The Highway" | 14 | |
| 1974 | "You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" is a rock song written by Randy Bachman and performed by Bachman–Turner Overdrive on the album Not Fragile. It was released as a single in 1974 with an instrumental track "Free Wheelin'" as the B-side... " |
1 | |
| 1975 | "Hey You" | 21 | |
| 1976 | "Gimme Your Money Please" | 70 | |
| 1976 | "Take It Like A Man" | 33 | |
| 1976 | "Lookin' Out For #1" | 65 | |
| 1976 | "Down To The Line" | 43 | |
| 1977 | "My Wheels Won't Turn" | -- | |
| 1977 | "Shotgun Rider" | -- | |
| 1978 | "Down The Road" | -- | |
| 1979 | "Jamaica" | -- | |
| 1979 | "Heartaches" | 60 | |
| 1984 | "Service With A Smile" | -- | |
| 1984 | "For The Weekend" | 83 | |
| 1996 | "House Of The Rising Sun" | -- | |
| 2010 | "Rollin' Along" | -- |
Filmography
| Year | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Music Video | You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet |
| 1975 | Documentary/ Live Shows | 1975 Road Special |
| 1983 | Music Video | For The Weekend |
| 1988 | Live Show | '88 Reunion |
| 1995 | Documentary/ Live Shows | BTO: The Movie |