Biography
Charles Henry Turner was born to Charles Rodgers Turner and Norma (Durrance) Turner in 1936. Growing up in rural Bunnell, Florida 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. It was toward the end of his years at FSU that Charlie began to pick up jobs playing with outside orchestras, and it wasn’t long before the call of the muse had Charlie leaving FSU and playing with the show bands of Las Vegas.
Charlie was a great lead trumpet player and his powerful and penetrating horn was soon leading such stellar bands as Ralph Flanagan, Charlie Spivak, Jimmy Dorsey, Harry James, and Count Basie. He also played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
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