Artist Bio: BILL TURNER & BLUE
SMOKE
The BLUE SMOKE band was founded by Bill Turner in
February 1972 in an attempt to recapture the Country and Rockabilly roots of a
"post-Woodstock" music industry so completely dominated by, and lost in a haze
of Psychedelic Rock. The band began working almost immediately in local
Brooklyn clubs, and began building its
reputation gradually but steadily. In the ensuing years, the band developed into
a highly polished, professional and widely known nightclub and stage attraction,
appearing at fairs, concerts, conventions and all types of public and private
events throughout the northeast and even into
Canada.
In 1974 Bill divided his time between Blue Smoke, and a
two and a half year stint with Bill Haley & His Comets, playing lead guitar
with this Inventor of Rock & Roll, a gig which took him around the
world.
In July of 1996, MTV hired Bill and the group to
record the soundtrack music for the four 30 second commercial spots heralding
their new M-2 Satellite Network which made its worldwide debut on August 1st of
that year. Bill and the band recorded the instrumental "C.C. Rider" chaser
heard in each of the spots, which featured a cast of 24 Elvis’ acting out poses
and dancing.
Through the years, Blue Smoke became the 'band of choice'
for many of the country's top Elvis Tribute performers, which led to their being
discovered by MTV at a convention in Wildwood NJ where they were the backup
orchestra for an Elvis Competition which drew over 4,000 in attendance. Soon
after this, the band released its first CD "Mississippi Maserati Breakdown" on the
independent MANSION RECORDS label.
In the
past year Bill Turner & Blue Smoke won two film industry awards; a 2004
Bronze Telly Award, and a 2005 Platinum Aurora Award, both for "Best Use of
Music" in an independent film "The Crusaders", a spy film with a soundtrack
heavily laced with retro-surf and jazzy lounge music...a Blue Smoke
specialty.
Since 1999 Bill Turner & Blue Smoke have been
appearing regularly in Atlantic
City at Bally's Wild, Wild West
Casino.
