Steve "Little Stevie" Turner
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If you dream about singing while sitting on a swing, jamming with the AM radio, or belting it out on a tavern stage, then you’re in sync with Steve “Little Stevie” Turner. He believes singing while swinging taught him music timing at the age of 6. When he was 7 years old, he sang with the AM radio while riding with his father, a taxi driver. Many of his father’s customers would be leaving taverns. Often a tavern owner would ask if “Little Stevie” was available to sing. Hence, the beginning of singing on stage and his nickname.
Many people have been a part of Turner’s musical roots. Dixie Shouse, Minnie Pearl’s sister, would play the piano. Shouse’s husband, Wash, was active in many farm-related organizations and asked “Little Stevie” to sing at the dinner meetings. At the age of 9, Grady Breece taught Turner three chords on his first guitar and as they say, the rest is history. He knows how to play the harmonica and a little bit of the piano, but his favorite instrument is the guitar. By the time Turner was 10, radio unexpectedly came back into his life. He was invited to sing and play on the Saturday morning “Lawrence Durham Show” on WHLP-AM. A few weeks after starting, he was asked to join DJ John Kerr to play records and talk about music. Immediately, the public expressed their enjoyment of the program. The show went by the name Cousin Zeke and Stevie. Soon, John Kerr moved, and the station manager offered the show to Turner. It was reported that the 10-year-old was the youngest DJ in the nation. At the age of 11, he was the Nashville Tennessean “Discovery of the Week” and appeared on stage with Roy Acuff at Centennial Park. Aside from DJ, Turner held many positions at WHLP. He was trash collector, writer and producer of commercials, engineer, music director, news director, program director, sales manager, station manager, and then, the owner for 25 years. Turner was one of 45 broadcasters nominated for the 2017 TN Radio Hall of Fame. He was voted one of the Top 15 radio careers in Tennessee, primarily because a 59-year career at the same radio station is very rare. Turner’s career with the radio station soon added the musical stage back into his life. It all came together with a phone call from Del Reeves in 2004. Reeves decided to let Turner know a member of his band, Charlie Garner, wanted to start a radio show. Turner was able to make this happen with the help of several others. At the first show, Mickey Bunn ran the board while Turner interviewed Charlie Garner. The first guest was Minnie Pearl’s great niece, Mary Beth Shouse Pruett and the first music guest was Mike Blackwell. This was the early beginning of the Grinders Switch Ensemble, of which Turner has been a member since 2004. When on stage, he plays the guitar while singing his favorite music, traditional country. Occasionally, he’ll throw in a joke or two. Turner’s hobby is multi-tasking. He enjoys playing the guitar, singing, and everyday life on the farm. When asked for words of wisdom, he is often quoted as saying, “Love the Lord and always be true to yourself. Do for others as you are blessed.” |