Turley's Place

West Virginia can claim its fair share of stars; Kathy Mattea, Don Knotts, and Charles “Chuck” Yeager to name a few. But West Virginia has only one “Superstar”: Turley Richards from Charleston. Turley, as so many West Virginians do, turned tragedy into triumph with a musical career that has spanned five decades.

Turley is the son of Cody & Silba Turley of South Charleston, West Virginia. Cody was one of seven children of Frank & Mary Price Turley of South Hills. Silba was the daughter of Lon & Mary Woods Eskew of Tornado; there were six children in her family. Turley says of his mother, “Mom provided me with the strength to handle anything that comes my way. All parents should learn how to give that to their children.”

A childhood accident left Turley blind in his left eye. He and another boy were playing with a bow & arrow and Turley was shot and blinded. As the years passed, he lost sight in his right eye as well. Surgery after unsuccessful surgery followed but Turley refused to give in to frustration or depression. He looked upon these setbacks as giving him the strength to overcome challenges both in life and show business. His mother’s advice still rings true to him today, “It’s a tough world and you have to be tougher than the toughest.” Turley says, “Blindness will never defeat me. I’m still singing, I’m still singing and I ain’t gonna stop!” The only downside to his blindness for Turley is that he has never seen his children, Amber and Adam; or been able to pore over their photographs as so many parents take for granted.

Turley has overcome another health crisis. In 1985 he had a scare in which he feared he was losing his voice. Occupational rehabilitation courses taught him skills such as massage therapy, computers and typing to replace singing and entertaining. Luckily this genetic problem was defeated and his voice returned. Turley also sees this situation as a gift and a positive instead of a negative experience. He was able to explore other life options and realized that he would always be able to make a living for his family; no matter what life throws at Turley he is able to turn it into a success.

He began his musical career in my Coonskin Park home when I asked him to perform at a children’s birthday party. How far he has come since then! When Turley started performing professionally he hit a few rough patches. There was a time when he found himself alone, visually impaired, and sleeping in Central Park in New York City–with $1.83 to his name. He took a serious look at himself and where his talents lay. Instead of giving up and running home he began singing in pubs for food and making friends. This led to his first record deal with MGM/Verve Records. A lesson for everyone: Do what you do best and don’t give up!

Turley hit the Billboard Top 100 Charts for the first time in 1970 with “Love Minus Zero, No Limit” a song written by Bob Dylan. Throughout his career he has sold 1.4 MILLION records! Turley has been signed with nine record companies including Warner Brothers and Atlantic Records. Many singers/songwriters go their entire career without ever getting ONE record deal. Every single he released was a Billboard “Pick Hit.” What an accomplishment by this talented West Virginian!

Over the years Turley has shared the stage with some of the top names in entertainment including: Comedian Richard Pryor, Frankie Avalon, Tony Bennett, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, the Jerry Lewis Telethon, Joe Walsh & Glen Frye of the Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac. He has appeared on Merv Griffin and the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson along with many many others. His resume also includes appearances at West Virginia’s Mountain Stage and with comedy legend Tim Wilson during the Kentucky Derby festivities in Louisville. Turley has also hosted his own TV variety show.

The true testament of an artist’s talent is their reputation among other artists. Turley has been praised by people in the music industry who know the music business and recognize talent.

Mike Post, of Mike Post Productions in Burbank, California is the writer of such television theme songs as “Magnum P.I., The Rockford Files, Law & Order, and NYPD Blue. He described Turley’s voice as “soulful…giant…warm…Turley is a drop dead great singer…what a talent.” But he is not the only show business talent that is blown away by Turley Richards.

Joe Boyland, President of Legend Artist Management and Big Street Entertainment of Nashville, Tennessee has known Turley since 1981. Joe has managed the rock and roll group Lynrd Skynrd and was instrumental in the first big hits of Pop Stars Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. Joe knows talent and of Turley he said, “I…appreciate and respect his integrity and professional attitude. Turley always wants to make everything as good as possible…this makes for good music. I highly recommend him.”

Not only do legendary music producers recommend Turley, but legendary performers do as well. Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac has so much respect for Turley and his talent that in 1979 he designed the artwork for the front and back covers of Turley’s album Therfu. Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood was the executive producer of the album. These talented artists have given Turley the ultimate compliment: their respect for his work.

Since 1985 Turley has been much more than a performer. He now lives in the Louisville Kentucky area where he is writing, producing, and recording as well as working as a music consultant and a much sought after vocal coach. Stevie Lee of Louisville radio station WSFR calls Turley “…a class act…serious talent and an outstanding vocal coach.” Another example of how Turley Richards’ skills and talent have become recognized both in front of and behind the microphone!

Turley is also recognized for “giving back”. He performs at events that feature performers with visual impairments such as the “Bards and Storyteller Series” at the Callahan Museum in Louisville. This series of performances was sponsored by the American Printing House for the Blind and the Kentucky Humanities Council.

Turley is also at work on a new CD and his autobiography, both titled “BlindSighted” and to be published later this year. More information and samples of his wonderful voice & songwriting talent are available at his website: www.turleyrichards.com

Turley Richards is truly an inspiration to us all. It is always so nice to encounter successful people whom we know when they were children; to see where their lives have taken them. Turley is an amazing gentleman that is a credit to not only his family but to all West Virginians. From humble beginnings and incredible obstacles, he has forged ahead to share his great talent with the world. Keep singing, Turley!

Here’s why you haven’t seen Zeke Buck in a while:

Every day, the singer and guitarist for People Noise wakes up, turns on his computer, maybe plugs in an instrument and a microphone, and writes. He writes heavy songs, he writes light songs. He doesn’t get out much, but when he does, it’s usually to drop off recordings to his buddy, Matt Johnson.

Johnson’s kind of a hermit, too. He was ready to dive into the home improvement business when Buck called. Now Johnson’s hooked. “I’ve never been this obsessed or enthusiastic about anything before,” he said. He drums forever on a farm out in rural Kentucky, not quite the middle of nowhere, but damn close. No Internet. No cell phone service. It’s very Unabomber.

He studies Buck’s songs, learns the schemes, the twists, the changes. Then he sits down on a drum stool and begins laying the foundation, like a builder trying to make sure the house doesn’t collapse. When he’s done, Johnson returns the songs to Buck, who plays, edits, nips and tucks. “Matt’s been kind enough to let me steer the bus,” Buck said. He’s talking about songwriting, but sooner or later, these guys want to ride in a bus, not just steer one.

Full blast

“There’s so much lost time to cover,” Buck said. “Basically, I’m trying to start anew.” Hence the obsession. The preparation for what would become the songs People Noise started almost immediately after Buck parted ways with VHS or Beta, a group he played in for 10 years. Buck knew he wanted a sound — “not ’80s” — and he knew he wanted to sing. He had sung opera in his early teens, but he didn’t sing at all in VHS or Beta, and he missed it. Turley Richards was going to change that.

Richards is a blind Louisville musician whose vocal range is practically limitless. But his real talent is enhancing the person, as well as the voice. It’s a good thing, too, because Buck was terrified, so he hired Turley to teach him how to sing all over again.

“I really felt exposed,” Buck said. “(Turley) coached confidence. He was there to support me.” Later this month, People Noise starts recording its first album, Ordinary Ghosts. The songs cover everything from reincarnation to Buck’s thoughts about his former band. On stage, Johnson and Buck will be joined by Rahman McGinnis (guitar), Woody Woodmansee (keyboards) and Mike DuFresne (bass).

Some labels have expressed an interest in the band by contacting the group via its MySpace page, and Johnson said the group is actively looking for a manager, and a booking agent, too. People Noise will probably start playing out locally in the spring, Johnson said. For those gigs, Buck said the band will basically “draw a perimeter around Louisville.” The shows won’t be anything elaborate, mostly smaller venues so the band can work out any kinks that might come up. “I miss the road so much,” Buck said. “It removes you from objects of desire, and you’re only left with yourself and your friends.” That’s ideal company. “I don’t know what to expect,” Buck said. “We’re gonna do it, and we’re gonna do it any way capable.”

Contact the writer at mherron@leoweekly.com

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Whether you call him Turley Richards or Richard Turley is your choice – he answers to both.
Folks who remember the blind musician and his family from South Charleston will go with the latter. Folks who know his history as a singer-songwriter-guitarist signed on with eight record companies during his career know him as the former, a professional name that came about by accident when a fellow musician – who was dyslexic – accidentally switched the names.
The name stuck, though Richards said his mother was none too happy about it, particularly when she was interviewed once and the writer called her “Miss Richards.”
“My name is not Miss Richards,” she told the writer. “He went off to New York and changed his damn name.”
It’s one of many stories Richards is likely to tell when he performs at South Charleston’s LaBelle Theater Saturday night, his first visit back to West Virginia in a while.
The stories, enough to fill a book – which he actually is working on – weave nicely with the topics of his songs.
When he was 4, Richards lost sight in one eye during a childhood mishap with a bow and arrow. Infection spread to his other eye, although for years he could see a bit from it.
He lost sight completely in his late 20s.
“The thing about it, if you’re going to go blind, I think I was the luckiest guy in the world because I was in the music business,” Richards said by phone from his home in Louisville, Ky. “What if I’d been an electrician?”
He said because he never saw well, losing sight in the second eye wasn’t really a physical blow – he’d already adapted to daily living skills.
“The process for me was mental. I saw myself as a ladies man, a basketball player and a pool shark. When I lost my sight completely, I saw myself as a frail little guy tapping my way around with a cane. It took me 18 months to deal with it. One day, I said to myself, ‘You know, man, you don’t live on a two-way street. You live on a one-way street and you need to get off this pity pot.’ ”
On the bright side, Richards, who turns 70 in June, laughs that the photographic memory he has of himself was from his last album cover before he lost his sight, a photo taken when he was 28.
“I’m 28 and I’m going to stick with it,” he said, laughing.
Interestingly, Richards notes that of 650 songs he’s written in his career, 50 are about mirrors.
His last hit was in 1980, “You Might Need Somebody,” recorded with Atlantic Records, though Richards was asked later to consider making a country album. He declined.
“I can’t be a country singer.
“I started out as a jazz singer – I can’t be phony,” Richards said.
“This is an awful thing to say, but it’s the state of the music business today,” Richards said, noting that he particularly dislikes “acrobatic singers” who wind their way through their range for the sake of showing it off.
“I had a five-octave range, but I never did any of that because I grew up in jazz, where you have to have a dynamic flow,” he said.
These days, Richards stays busy singing once a month at a local pizza place “to keep my chops together” and at private parties. He’s also a vocal coach and a songwriting coach.
While he’s had opportunities to move back to New York, Richards said he didn’t want to move away from his now-grown son and daughter. Daughter Amber will be coming to South Charleston with him to perform a couple of songs Saturday night.
“She’s an incredible singer. She’s a cross between Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt,” he said.
As for his own repertoire, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame nominee said he likes to let the audience determine that.
He may include his songs that made the charts – 1970′s “Child of Mine,” “I Heard the Voice of Jesus,” “Love Minus Zero – No Limit” and 1980′s “You Might Need Somebody” and perhaps a jazzy cover of Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny.”
“I think for this one I’m actually going to have the first nine songs worked out,” he said. “And I wrote a special song for this, ‘It’s so Nice to Come Back Home,’ because this is my first actual concert in my hometown. And I’ll be doing a medley of ‘Please Come Home to Boston’ with ‘Desperado.’ ”
Richards said he is content with his current schedule and honestly, with his life, which he figures will make a good book – he even envisions a movie deal coming from it.
“I wouldn’t trade my life with anybody else. I would like to see, but it’s just a hangnail. Two things bother me about being blind.
“The second one is that I have to depend on other people to get me from Point A to Point B. But the first one is that I’ve never seen my kids and I won’t be able to see my granddaughter.”
He then tells a story of being in a Kroger store with his daughter one day and telling her that he could talk about his regret over not seeing his kids without getting emotional, but if he talked about never having seen his ‘babies’ he got emotional.
“And she stepped around the cart and put her arms around me and said, ‘Our daddy sees us with his heart.’ ”
Contact writer Monica Orosz at 304-348-4830

More than 25 years after Turley Richards landed his last major record deal, the Louisville singer/songwriter has recorded songs for two new albums and is working on a comeback.

Since the 1950s, he has performed or shared the stage with Ray Charles, Neil Diamond, Fleetwood Mac, Richie Havens, Aretha Franklin and other big names.

Now 65, he is performing regularly at several places around town, hoping to revive his old fan base and add to it.

He seemed to be succeeding at both recently as he performed before an enthusiastic audience at the American Printing House for the Blind’s Bards and Storytellers series at the printing house’s Callahan Museum in Clifton.

The series features entertainers who are blind. It is funded in part by the Kentucky Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Talking freely and humorously about his life and career, Richards performed a string of songs and made observations about the music industry: “In a perfect world, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead,” he said.

He also talked about his prospective albums, the acoustic “Blind Sighted” and the soul and rhythym-and-blues “Back to My Roots.” He has soft-pedaled his own career while his children, Amber, 25, and Adam, 28, have grown up, and he partially lost his voice as the result of an esophageal problem during the 1980s.

Carla Ruschival of Clifton, who attended the performance, said she has been a fan since the 1980s. “He has a story to tell, and he does it well,” said Ruschival, co-host of the Sound Prints radio show on WKJK-AM, sponsored by the Kentucky Council of the Blind.

She interviewed Richards for her show in April and requested a Chuck Berry number at the museum performance. “His versatility is incredible,” she said.

Richards lost sight in one eye as a child after accidentally being shot with an arrow. He lost sight in the other eye at age 28 while living and performing in New York, the result of an infection from the first incident.

“I went from being a singer to being a blind singer,” he recalled this week, sitting at the sound mixing board of his basement recording studio. He now has two prosthetic eyes.

A native of West Virginia who excelled in basketball and baseball, Richards passed through Louisville and performed at a club on Washington Street in 1967. He came back and did his own television show in 1972 and has been here since, except for stints in Nashville and Atlanta.

Richards is upbeat about his life.

He attends Southeast Christian Church and recorded two contemporary Christian albums in the 1990s. Much of his income comes from playing at private parties, including ones on the West Coast, he said.

He has performed in Europe, and over the years has continued to perform locally.

He has earned a black belt in judo and has worked as a massage therapist. He also works as a music producer and vocal and songwriting coach.

He has sold about 1.4 million records, he said, and considers his biggest hit songs to be “You Might Need Somebody” and “Love Minus Zero, No Limit,” the latter by Bob Dylan. He said he’s written more than 650 songs, including a new one he sang at the museum, “Dancing With the Man In the Moon.”
He was divorced in 1986 and says, “My kids are my life.”

His daughter will join him during a performance tomorrow at Captain’s Quarters restaurant.
While he’s hoping for another record deal, “I just want people to hear the music.”
Reporter Martha Elson can be reached at (502) 582-7061.