Blackberry Smoke drummer Brit Turner dead at 57
Brit Turner, the drummer and founding member of country rock outfit Blackberry Smoke, passed away on March 3rd aged 57.
In November 2022, Turner was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a cancer of the brain and underwent surgery to remove the cancer. Despite his illness, the drummer continued to tour and perform with Blackberry Smoke. In fact, Turner was onstage with the band mere days before he passed away.
The band confirmed their drummer’s passing on social media. On Facebook, they wrote on March 3rd, “If you had the privilege of knowing Brit on any level, you know he was the most caring, empathetic, driven and endearing person one could ever hope to meet.”
Their message continued, “Brit was Blackberry Smoke’s True North, the compass that instituted the ideology that will continue to guide this band.”
Turner was born in Mt. Clemons, Michigan, and was infatuated with music from an early age. In a 2012 interview with Modern Drummer, he shared, “I received a snare drum for Christmas from my parents before the sixth grade. It was a purple sparkle Stewart set.”
Turner had music in his blood, as he revealed in 2012, “My father played in a big band in the early days while becoming an officer in the air force. Granny played piano and my uncle Brit plays guitar. I guess that’s how I got exposed to music.”
Blackberry Smoke formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2000. The group, with Turner behind the sticks, revolutionised Southern rock. Incorporating hard rock with country influences, the group were the first independent band to reach number one in the US country music charts, with their 2015 album Holding All The Roses.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.