Sonny Turner (1939-2022) American Singer
Sonny Turner (1939-2022) American Singer dies at 13 January 2022 ( 82 years). Find a grave Sonny Turner Bio, Life and career.
| Name | Sonny Turner |
| Age | 82 years |
| Birth | 24 September 1939 |
| Birthplace | Fairmont, West Virginia, United States |
| Death | 13 January 2022 |
| Deathplace | Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA |
| Profession | Singer |
| Instruments | vocals |
| Burial | |
| Nationality | American |
Sonny Turner was an American Singer
He is remembered for his work as a member of the ensemble “The Platters.” Born Charles Turner, his father was a professional boxer, his mother was a gospel singer, Sonny was raised in Cleveland, Ohio where he attended East Technical High School.
He got his start as a singer in local choirs before joining the music group “The Metrotones.” In 1961, he succeeded Tony Williams as lead vocalist of “The Platters” who went on to achieved two additional Top-40 hits with “I Love You 1000 Times” (number 31 placing in 1966) and “With This Ring” (number 14 placing in 1967).
Sonny Turner Life and career
Prior to his work with The Platters, Turner was the lead singer of a local vocal group called The Metrotones. While performing in a local club in Cleveland as the opening act for Redd Foxx, Turner was approached by local DJ Bill Crane and asked if he would be interested in auditioning for The Platters, as their lead singer as Tony Williams was soon to be leaving the group.
Turner was chosen out of 100 hopeful auditioners to replace Williams in late 1959. Turner, whose friend and mentor was Jackie Wilson, breathed new life into The Platters with three hit singles; “I Love You 1000 Times” in 1966, “With This Ring” in 1967 and “Washed Ashore” in 1968.
He also re-recorded many of The Platters hits of the 1950s, and it is Turner’s vocals that are heard on the soundtracks for films such as The Nutty Professor 2 and Hearts in Atlantis. Turner died from throat cancer in Los Angeles on January 13, 2022, at the age of 83.
