“Southern Rock Pioneer and Blackberry Smoke Drummer Brit Turner Passes Away at 57: A Tribute to a Musical Legacy”
BRIT TURNER, the renowned drummer and co-founder of Southern rock band Blackberry Smoke, passed away on Sunday at the age of 57. Turner battled glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, and underwent surgery in November 2022 to address a brain tumor. The band confirmed his demise through a heartfelt post on social media.
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Brit Turner
“It is with the deepest sorrow that we inform everyone that our brother @britturner13 has moved on from this life. 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,” the band expressed. “Brit was Blackberry Smoke’s True North, the compass that instituted the ideology that will continue to guide this band.”
Hailing from Atlanta and established in 2000, Blackberry Smoke breathed new life into Southern rock by infusing substantial doses of country music with powerful guitar riffs. Their musical collaborations included George Jones on their 2009 album “Little Piece of Dixie,” and they opened for Guns N’ Roses during a 2019 tour, with Turner’s dynamic drumming setting the rhythm for their entire journey.
Born in Mt. Clemons, Michigan, and raised in Smyrna, Georgia, Turner embodied the spirit of Blackberry Smoke as its heart and soul. Recognizable for his long beard, wild hair, and infectious laughter, he was a central figure in the band’s success. His humorous timing matched his rhythmic beats, evident in a 2015 Rolling Stone interview where he quipped about the words “Rock & Roll” on his kick drum, stating, “I have another one that says ‘Country.’”
In a 2012 blog for Modern Drummer, Turner reflected on his introduction to drumming, recalling receiving a snare drum as a Christmas gift before sixth grade. His musical exposure came from a family with a rich musical background, including his father, who played in a big band, and his uncle Brit, who played the guitar. Despite early influences in hard rock and heavy metal, Turner redirected his focus to Southern rock, Americana, and traditional country, co-founding Blackberry Smoke with his brother and other talented musicians.
Blackberry Smoke achieved significant success with hits like “Good One Comin’ On” in 2009 and the albums “The Whippoorwill” in 2012 and “Holding All the Roses” in 2015, both reaching Number One on the country charts. The band solidified its status as one of the 21st century’s genuine rock bands with the follow-up album “Like an Arrow,” featuring the track “Free on the Wing” with Gregg Allman, one of the final songs recorded before Allman’s death in 2017.
