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| INTERVIEWS ARCHIVES RESCHEDULED |
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Name: Tiffany Turner
Date: Monday March 23rd, 2009
Time: 8:00pm EST
Website: www.theturnerfamilybluegrass.bravehost.com
Interviewer: Terry Poirier
Description:
Tiffany Turner was born and raised in the southernmost regions of the Ozark Mountain range, in the sleepy little community of Mount Joy , Arkansas . Now Mount Joy isn’t on a lot of maps but nearby Mountain View is. You see, Mountain View , the Stone County seat, is known as the Folk Music Capitol of the World. Now we’re not talking about Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, or Peter, Paul and Mary here, we’re talking about centuries old southern mountain and gospel music. This music was common throughout the south in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries and was derived from Scotch, Irish and English folk tunes. Tiffany kind of skipped by all that musical history — although it surely influenced her — and zoned in on bluegrass..
Home schooled by her mother, Patty Turner, Tiffany excelled at her studies and received her diploma just before her 17th birthday. When she wasn’t studying for school she was pickin’ and strummin’ on her banjo or guitar honing her incredible skills to the point of perfection. Her banjo influence is obvious; she’s Earl Scruggs all the way! When it comes to her flat picking style she says she’s developed her own. Many have commented to her that her guitar style is reminiscent of Tony Rice, but she’d never even heard him play until after hearing those observations. Growing up she’s played a lot of music composed by others, but in recent years she has become quite an accomplished songwriter as we can hear on the most recent CDs from the Turner Family and her own solo CD, Barefoot Bluegrass.
The Turner Family Gospel Bluegrass group is where she learned her performance skills. Composed of her father Garry, older sister Tasha, and the ever-mischievous nine-year old Titus, the Turner family has travelled throughout the southeast region of the United States performing gospel and bluegrass favorites in churches and on stage. They have released several albums which can be found on their website www.theturnerfamilybluegrass.bravehost.com. Tiffany has her own site and her latest CD Barefoot Bluegrass can be found there as well. Her web address is www.tiffanyturnermusic.webs.com..
In recent years Tiffany has pursued jamming with whomever she can on the Stone County Courthouse lawn; it’s often brimming with musicians who make the pilgrimage from all over the country to play Bluegrass and Gospel music there. As a result of these connections she has made a lot of friends who have sought her out to play with. She has often performed traditional folk songs with her cousins Lana and Landon Griffith at the Ozark Folk Center that’s based there in Mountain View .
Because of the Folk Center , many folk and bluegrass artists visit the area to perform there and at other local venues. One such group of artists was the aforementioned Lewis Family that appeared at an open air event at nearby Sylamore Creek. Ever the devotees, Tiffany and family approached “Little Roy” Lewis and told him of their love for his music. Roy took a liking to them immediately and dedicated a song to them during the next set. He also told them of a young lady, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Long, who he was mentoring and that he felt would become a Bluegrass star.
As fate would have it, they met Lizzie at the “Bluegrass Fan Fest” held in Nashville , Tennessee . She was at one of the many musical instrument displays playing with one of her friends. Tiffany recognized Lizzy and introduced herself. Lizzy asked if she played and Tiff said she played 5-string and guitar. Lizzy told her to grab an instrument and join in. Before they knew it they were entertaining the masses with genuine Bluegrass music. From this chance meeting came an invitation from Lizzie to attend a special Thanksgiving gathering with Little Roy Lewis, Bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs and many others. Eventually, as a result of performing with them at their annual Thanksgiving bash for the last two years, Tiffany has become good friends with two of her idols: Earl Scruggs and Little Roy Lewis.
After pleading for some time with her parents to record her own album, they relented, and the race was on! Tiffany called up some of her special friends to record with her and they were nice enough to accept the invitation. She then enlisted the efforts of one of the best recording studios outside of Nashville . Supplementing the local talent was Little Roy Lewis, who played with Tiffany on three of the instrumental tracks on her new album. The result was impressive and she has had nothing but rave reviews for Barefoot Bluegrass from all quarters! Her music has been heard on radio stations from Texas to Kentucky , and now is being heard all over the world via the internet.
What’s coming next for Tiff? Well, only time will tell but the future looks bright for our Barefoot Bluegrass Girl… |
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