Henry Turner, Jr
ABOUT HENRY TURNER JR[edit | edit source]
Musician, vocalist, guitar player, composer, producer and promoter Henry Turner Jr., and his band, & Flavor, are an integral part of the Louisiana Music scene. They are well known for developing an intricate and syncopated style of music that is referred to as – Louisiana Blues, Soul, Funk and Reggae.
As lead singer his rich baritone voice adds warmth and depth to touching and soulful ballads, as well as intense power for upbeat dance songs. Turner’s guitar techniques incorporate blues, soul and funk styles, along with jazz chording to create mesmerizing and toe-tapping melodies. As founder of Hit City Digital records the band has released twenty singles and eleven CD’s. The most current are the singles “I’m Going Down to the Mardi Gras!,” “That’s My Saints” and the long awaited album “Now.” Their songs have also been featured in numerous compilation projects, independent feature films, commercials and top rated television shows.
Career[edit | edit source]
Henry estimates that he has written more than a hundred songs. With his quick wit and sense of humor radio stations and live audiences gravitate toward his tongue-in-cheek and double entendre lyrics, as well as the unique twists he incorporates into his love songs.
For his company he takes the production helm, signing and producing Louisiana artists in the Hit City Digital records’ recording studio. The small, yet diverse roster focuses on local roots music that include Country, Reggae, Neo Soul, Blues and Pop. All the company’s releases are funneled through international digital distribution networks.
In 2011, Henry Turner Jr. came up with the Ultimate Louisiana Party concept to introduce mass audiences to the culture of his home state. An instant hit with audiences while on tour it expanded into two and three day festivals that now include the annual Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Baton Rouge Soul Food and A Taste of the Deep South Festivals. In 2022 the Listening Room Film Festival debuted, screening films and music videos from around the world.
MORE DETAILS ABOUT HENRY TURNER JR[edit | edit source]
Henry Turner Jr’s. Listening Room and Heritage Museum opened Baton Rouge in 2014. The purpose of the venue is to introduce, encourage and support local and regional talent, as well as provide national touring acts an intimate and inviting place to perform. The Museum Foundation, formed in 2019 focuses on arts and entertainment education. Virtual and in-person concert series have been funded by the Greater Baton Rouge Arts Council, East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President and the Metro Council, Blue Cross Blue Shield, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation and the Louisiana Lottery, among others.
Accomplishments and accolades include being named an official Music Ambassador by the Louisiana Office of Tourism in 2014, for his performance at the 53rd Annual Lions Club Watermelon Festival in Southern California. In 2015, October 28 was proclaimed Henry Turner Jr. Day in Baton Rouge. In 2016, Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor did a month long, weekly music series for the Louisiana State Museums’ Music at the Mint program in New Orleans. October 28, 2017 was once again proclaimed Henry Turner, Jr. Day. In 2018 the Slim Harpo Music Awards honored him with an Ambassador Award and in 2019 the Lieutenant Governor’s Office named him an Honorary Louisiana Ambassador in part for writing “The Baton Rouge Theme Song.”
“Music Dreams…An American Story” debuted at several films festivals and conferences in 2020. The half hour documentary focuses on the evolution of his music and band, from funk to Top 40, to reggae and blues. It was screened at various museums and libraries throughout Louisiana and has aired on Louisiana Public Broadcasting channels. “We’re Going Down the Mardi Gras,” another documentary about the founding of his festival, about to celebrate its tenth year, was screened at festivals and shown on television in 2021. Turner also produced “Henry’s Listening Room,” a weekly television series that aired in Baton Rouge and New Orleans for over a year. It focused on the musical acts and performers who play the room and included interviews, music videos and interviews with historical figures that have contributed to Black History.
Henry firmly believes that one of his missions is it to introduce and mentor new talent into the ever changing music industry. As a show business veteran and entrepreneur his vision is and always will be to share the love he has for his home state of Louisiana, his hometown of Baton Rouge and to introduce the cultural diversity of his world to the world in general.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINK[edit | edit source]
HENRY TURNER JR On YouTube [1]
HENRY TURNER JR On Facebook [2]
HENRY TURNER JR On Twitter [3]
HENRY TURNER JR On Instagram [4]