Christopher Turner

A mix of soul and jazz is what come to ear, but this classically trained, crooner deftly combines streams of jazz, hip-hop, funk, and soul in his music; he’s as comfortable with falsetto and scatting as he is with laying down smooth and creative phrasings. Chris is the modern day Frank SInatra or Nat KIng Cole... Chris Turner a vocalist from Oakland, California when asked, what is your profession, his response is, “ Music is what I do…” It was at the age of 4 when he began to get that feeling, that itch to become a musician. Chris’s Dad a singer; and he wanted to do the same. While attending his father’s gig he asked his Dad between sets to let him sing and in less than 5 minutes he taught Chris the song, “He's Got the World In His Hands.” Chris learned it, sung it, and by the end of the song he had the house. While hearing the applause, his head went back, arms stretched out and that's when the Music Bug bit him! At the age of 7 Chris became a member of the Kairos Youth Choir of the Crowden Music School in Berkeley, Ca. where his formal training began with classical and musical theory. Chris at the age of 9 landed a part in the Houston’s Opera Company Porgy & Bess presented by the San Francisco Opera Company. He went on to audition and was accepted as a student with YMP, Young Musicians Program at the University of California. Through the YMP experience, a student’s potential for greatness is identified and developed by pursuing academic and musical excellence, tempered with an ongoing process for personal growth. YMP has grown into one of the leading music training programs in the nation. While attending YMP Chris studied voice from Dr. Johari Jabir now a professor at Northwestern University. Chris went on to attend and graduate from the School of the Arts (SOTA) High School in San Francisco, California. His musical talent began to take the Bay Area by storm when Chris was selected to be the featured vocalist for the SF Jazz High School All-Stars. The SFJAZZ High School All-Stars program provides advanced-level training and performance opportunities for some of the most talented musicians in the nation. Selected annually by competitive audition, the All-Stars rehearse and perform with today's top jazz educators and artists. Chris as an All-Star appeared at the San Francisco Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Competition (finalists in 2002), and at community concerts in top professional jazz clubs, festivals, museums, and community arts centers throughout California opening up for jazz greats like Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Michael Brecker. He was later selected to the prestigious GRAMMY High School Jazz Ensemble. This opportunity lead to performing with many Grammy artists including Carlos Santana, Kirk Whalum, Dave Koz, and many more. The GRAMMY High School Jazz Ensemble experience, inspired Chris to pursue College in New York, where he went on to attend the New School University for Jazz and Contemporary Music. He recently graduated from the New School University for Jazz and Contemporary Music and was fortunate to have studied from teachers like Reggie Workman, Charlie Persip, and Richard Harper where they pushed him to his limits and expanded his mind musically. Additionally, Chris studied with Bilal Oliver, an accomplished recording artist, who taught him to free his mind, challenging Chris to use his musicianship to think outside the box. Currently, Chris is singing background for Sean Kingston, the Jamaican-American reggae/pop music singer and rapper. Traveling the world and singing to thousands, Chris has toured with Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Brown, Bow Wow, Soulja Boy, and many others. Chris loves life right now and continues to thank God for his blessing. So keep listening... CT is coming and so are the Fresh Geeks ... Remember,“ Music is what I do…”