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BLACKBERRY SMOKE
by Eric Snoddy
Photos courtesy of Blackberry Smoke
From the May 2006 issue of Prick Magazine.
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 Blackberry Smoke is (L-R) Richard Turner (bass/vocals), Charlie Starr (vocals/guitar),
Brit Turner (drums), and Paul Jackson (guitar/vocals). |
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Sometimes when you first hear a band, you automatically know if it's destined for greatness. I first ran across Marietta, Ga. brothers Brit and Richard Turner many years ago, when we all hung out in the Atlanta metal scene. Fast forward eight or ten years and we meet up again. Only this time, they are playing with Lanett, Ala. native Charlie Starr in a band called Lonesome Jones, which had a brief deal with RCA Records.
After many deliberations, the three members of Lonesome Jones decided to go at it on their own. After recruiting guitarist Paul Jackson from LaGrange, Ga., they formed Blackberry Smoke, a true Southern rock band. With the lineup complete, Jesse James Dupree of Jackyl gave the band a helping hand when he aided in the recording of their first record, 2003's Bad Luck Ain't No Crime, at his Cock of the Walk studio. Dupree also helped get Blackberry Smoke played on the radio in the Midwest and took the band on the road opening for Jackyl.
Now five years into its existence, Blackberry Smoke has shared the stage with some true legends. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet and Marshall Tucker have all given praises to this true Southern rock band.
The discipline it takes to be in a traveling band and business owner is not easy, but the varied backgrounds of the band have helped. Brit and Richard's father is a retired Air Force colonel. The self-control he instilled in his boys has helped them run One3 Creative, an Atlanta design company used by many for business cards and posters.
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Starr, on the other hand, grew up around bluegrass and farming. His great uncle is Buford Abner, who is in the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame for his singing duties in the Swanee River Boys, and his father played guitar in bluegrass bands in the region. Starr spent his youth picking okra, squash, bell peppers, and other things off the family farm. His talent is not just with a guitar in hand, but he also helps his father restore old cars at the family business, Gray's Body Shop in Lanett.
In the near future, the band will be recording the theme song for the TV show Good Ole Boys Outdoors. The show is about hunting and fishing and can be checked out at www.goodoleboysoutdoors.com. Also, the band just got back from the road with The Outlaws and will be performing at the Machine Shop in Flint, Mich. on May 6. Detroit native Kid Rock has stopped in to see the band on three separate occasions and even offered to jam with the band recently, but ended up doing some solo blues thing on Starr's guitar instead.
Dann Huff, who has worked with platinum country artists like Tim McGraw, Lonestar and Faith Hill, has signed on to produce Blackberry Smoke's next album this summer. Look for the new record by these new champions of Southern rock later this year.
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Blackberry Smoke will be performing throughout Georgia in May.
For more information, go to www.blackberrysmoke.com.
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