Big Joe Turner
His thunderous voice bridged Kansas City blues and 1950s rock and roll, turning 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' into a cultural earthquake.
1911–1985 (age 74)·American blues singer·Birthday: May 18·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Big Joe Turner was a force of nature whose career spanned the smoky speakeasies of Prohibition-era Kansas City to the birth of rock and roll. He didn't just sing; he shouted the blues with a raw, unamplified power that could ride over a roaring band, a skill honed as a singing bartender. While his 1930s recordings with pianist Pete Johnson helped ignite the boogie-woogie craze, it was in the 1950s that Turner truly reshaped popular music. His 1954 recording of 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' became a foundational rock and roll anthem, its driving rhythm and playful, raucous energy directly inspiring early hits by Bill Haley and Elvis Presley. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Turner never faded; he adapted his timeless style to new eras, performing with equal conviction for decades and becoming a living link between musical worlds.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Big was born in 1911, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Big Was Born
The biggest hits of 1911
Big's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1911Born
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1916Started school
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Became a teenager
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1927Could drive
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1929Could vote
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Turned 21
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1941Turned 30
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1951Turned 40
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 50
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 60
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 70
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1985Died at 74
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
Key Achievements
- His 1938 recording 'Roll 'Em Pete' with pianist Pete Johnson is a landmark of boogie-woogie and jump blues.
- The 1954 single 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' became one of the first and most influential rock and roll records.
- He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
- His career as a recording and performing artist spanned an extraordinary six decades, from the 1920s to the 1980s.
Did You Know?
He began his career as a 'singing bartender' in Kansas City, belting out tunes to attract customers.
Turner stood over six feet tall and weighed around 300 pounds, which contributed to his 'Big Joe' moniker.
He performed at the famous 1938 'From Spirituals to Swing' concert at Carnegie Hall.
His song 'Corrine, Corrina' has been covered by hundreds of artists, from Bob Dylan to Ray Peterson.
““Well, I said shake, rattle and roll. Well, you never do nothin' to save your doggone soul.””
