Artist Of The Week: Big Joe Turner

Big Joe Turner may have left Kansas City at his peak, but there is no doubt that his heart was always in KC. Big Joe became a legend performing down on Vine Street. His performances at the Sunset Club were legendary. It is said that before the show Big Joe, who was also the bartender would step outside the club and start to sing. Hs voice was so loud that everyone on the strip could hear him sing, and knew to start heading down to the club to hear him and piano man, "Roll'em" Pete Johnson. Big Joe had a lot of success in R&B, and jump blues, but later on he also had hits during the Rock & Roll era. To watch Big Joe in action just check out the videos on the left side of the blog powered by Youtube.