SongVault Artist Profile

Adrian B. Turner, a defiant and celebrated voice in waiting hales from the greater Washington, DC Metropolitan area with a new sound that’s compelling gospel audiences around the country. Since the tender age of seven Adrian B. Turner has had a passion for music, musical composition, and the sound of Gospel Music. Being reared in a rural town until his adult age in Kemper, Mississippi the importance of Christian living was instilled with a Pentecostal Grandfather, Father, and Mother. All of his life Adrian has been grounded in the church. His roots reach far beyond three generations of service, government, and establishment in Christ’s church. At age 7 Adrian sang his first solo in his home church and ever since his community and family has adored his little raspy tenor. It was in his home- high school where he learned to develop an ear for tone and pitch. “I often remember when the choral director Mr. Calloway singled me out in the 7th grade to join the High School Quartet.” Most young guys around their Junior High years tend to lend their talents to sports, etc. Adrian felt his calling to become a singer. He wanted to learn as much as he could about music. He vowed that he would continue with the choir until his high school graduation in 1995.
Since 1995 Adrian has been thrilled with the aspect of developing his own niche in Gospel. Upon relocating to Raleigh, North Carolina under the direction of recording choir Chapter 20 he found himself chosen to travel to select places namely, Nassau & Freeport, Bahamas, Kingston, Jamaica, and Haiti to accompany the world renowned Grammy winning, Pastor Shirley Caesar. This was a dream come true for the youngster and this wonderful opportunity allowed him to even dream bigger dreams and have deeper aspirations for the music we call Gospel. With a command of broad ranging genres in Gospel Adrian furthered his training and assistance to the renowned, Elbernita Twinkie Clark of the famed, Clark Sisters. Adrian was fascinated with the vocal creativity of the Clarkster so he surrounded himself with her music ministry to become cultivated in riffs, arrangement, and song writing. From this point Adrian developed his sound of inspiration as an addition to the many colm of genres in Gospel Music. Buy this time Adrian found himself on stage in Raleigh, North Carolina singing background for John Tesh. Understanding the importance of servant-hood he went on to join the cast of the 1996 GMA Dove Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. He sang live background for artists, CeCe Winans, Andre Crouch, Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace, and Mom Winans. His sultry notes of Tenor was a sound that added to the success of the production to that show and recording.
After truly experiencing Gospel on such a large scale birthed a desire in Turner to soar as a solo artist. Firstly, serving as Praise Leader in his local assembly the Greater City of Truth under the leadership of Bishop Kenneth D. Hagler, Sr. in Washington, DC has taught his the importance and endearment of having a covering, being groomed for ministry in any capacity, and how to lead a department of musicians and singers with Integrity. During his desire to become a solo artist Adrian has worked himself into doors of promotion that only the Favor of God could afford. In 2005 he performed for Don Jackson’s Annual Stellar Gospel Awards Post Reception ministering to acclaimed Gospel Artists and attendees. During that same year Dr. Bobby Jones invited him to share in Cincinnati Ohio for the Gospel Artist Gospel at the Encampment Retreat taped before a live audience on the WORD Network. The producers of that show took to Turner and in the next year invited him back to share for the National Black Family Reunion Tour as an opening act. Dr. Bobby Jones also served as the host. In 2006 The Halls, a well respected production team in Nashville, Tennessee offered Turner an opportunity to join a compilation effort supported through the GMA Dove Awards where his first single, I Need You was published. Adrian joined 15 other composers and artists to deliver a number 7 spot in the line-up. Adrian performed the single at a social showcase in Nashville, Tennessee and listeners and attendees took to the sound and were officially into the style of Adrian B. Turner. Adrian has been praised for setting a standard in Gospel as a new comer. He has pushed himself into doors and into the hearts of major artists who truly accept his ministry and persona. His detail and presentation in apparel has drawn many to pay close attention to him and when he opens his mouth to belt out notes it is total astonishment and amaze. In 2007 Adrian was invited back to the Stellar Awards Music Week to share in the Seminar Series & Showcases. Only prepared to sing two numbers because of his powerful and spiritual delivery was asked by Irma Davis, Chief Operations Officers of Central City Productions to sing and cover a no-show act and close out the show. This was an opportunity that placed Turner in a different assurance that what he had before. Persuaded even the more of his calling as a Solo Act, Adrian B. Turner began to seek for more performance opportunities when he teamed up with Carlos Hale and became a household performer for his Dove Awards Week Showcases and Performances.

Adrian has had the distinct pleasure of performing during numerous showcases along with; ZIEL, Karen Clark-Sheard, Dorinda Clark-Cole, LEXI, LeJuene Thompson, Leon Timbo, Trinitee 5:7, Kierra Sheard, Canton Jones, Deterick and Damita Haddon, and Lisa McClendon. It was in the many showcases that the artist himself furthers his passion to be a headhunter and seek more venues to perform in. All on his own he landed a major sold out concert in Pelham, Alabama with the artist affectionately known as Tonex. Turner prepared the evening in contemporary worship and inspiration as Tonex delivered. This was monumental for Turner because Pelham had never experienced a Gospel concert of such magnitude. In an effort to create a name for himself, Turner has decreed that he would surround himself with positive movers and shakers in the Gospel industry. He is personally respected by Kirk Franklin, Mary-Mary, Kim Burrell, IROC, Tanya Blunt, Stephen Hurd, Rodney & Fred Jerkins, and Tye Tribbett. Having performed on the same bill as acclaimed Tye Tribbett was a certainty that the call to minister and encourage youth and elderly was truly evident and his purpose to travel the country and deliver Inspiration, Hope, and Courage to believers is now upon him heavily.

Turner first began writing songs in his car on his call phone. He would hear a few words or hook and would record it. “Playing it back and singing with it, and allowing the song to become evident and set with my spirit is what I would pray for on every piece of material,” exclaims the artist. This took place during several instances and Soul Transition, his first Gospel Album was birthed and now has become a true gem. Soul Transition tracks themes of Faith and Inspiration to every believer that will listen closely to every lyric and instrumentation. The CD offering opens with a joyful Worship & Praise ballad, HIGHER THAN A MOUNTAIN. Turner’s powerful vocals extends as he offers his audience to say yes you want to go to that place where love and peace abides. Higher than a Mountain speaks for itself. It will draw the attention of worshippers to take their worshipper beyond measurement and scale to reach God. WHOA is a street R&B tune that asks the question, What will you do for Love? This the Breezy WHEN SUNDAY COMES counts down the days of the week and things we can go through as believers so that we can look forward to Sabbath and expect a miracle from the Word of God. The Theme Lude, SOUL TRANSITION is a solo performance on its own with just the artist sounding off riffs and vocal acrobats letting us know that we must wait on the manifestation to become what God has willed for us to become. BELEIVER is the hand-clapping song of declaration that will get you jumping in your kitchen, car, or wherever you can find some room to dance before the Lord. Other songs like Sacrificed, None Like You, Kempa’s Got Soul, an acapella groove including a whistle, Yes, the Artist whistles during the track, and Beautiful are sure to bless your heart. YOU GOT GOD was created to celebrate the Faith and Courage families survived during the Hurricane Katrina and Virginia Tech attacks. The CD is available July 21, 2009 online and commercially wherever Gospel Music is sold.

Adrian has one son, Jaylan St. Charles Turner. He continues to serve his local church as the Administrator and Minister of Music. He manages and books himself to gain control and keep his hand tied to the ministry God has entrusted to him. He celebrates the release of his CD with hopes of traveling the world ministering to a lost and dying world through song. His first desire is to serve the body of Christ as a Minstrel. He is the first from his hometown DeKalb, Mississippi to sing Gospel Music publically and had been dubbed as the town’s first Gospel Artist in over 100 years. His southern roots connect him to down home principles and acceptance of all people. When you see him you would never guess that he was a young farmer, tended to cattle, and helped his grandparents raise chickens. He accredits his present state in ministry to his Pastor, Bishop Kenneth D. Hagler, Sr. for the past 14 years. “Bishop is a Prophet of God. He has spoken all of this into being and I am just watching every word come to pass.” You will thoroughly enjoy the Music Ministry of Adrian B. Turner. His is Gospel’s newest Voice in Waiting.