RealTracks Artist Bio: Robby Turner

Robby Turner, "The Man of Steel," is a legend in the country music industry. He was born into a musical family (both parents played in Hank Williams' band, The Drifting Cowboys, in the 1940s) and it didn't take him long to get started on a musical career of his own. By age 6 Robby was playing drums in his father's band, by age 9 he was touring along with his parents, playing drums for the Wilburn brothers. At age 10 he started playing steel guitar, and by age 12 he was the youngest ever musician chosen to endorse and represent the Sho-Bud Pedal Steel Guitar.

It would take a book to tell about all of the bands and artists Robby has played, recorded, and toured with, but even a short list includes an amazing number of legends, not only from the field of Country music, but legends of Rock, Jazz, Blues, and Pop as well. The list not only includes George Jones, Chet Atkins, and Loretta Lynn, but also B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra, Herbie Hancock, Ray Charles, Stevie Ray Vaughn and many, many others. (It's worth a visit here) to see the full list.)

In 1989 Robby was invited to record and tour with "The Highwaymen" (Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash & Kris Kristofferson). This was the beginning of his close association and friendship with Waylon Jennings and his wife, Jessi Colter, that extended over eleven years of touring and recording until Jennings' untimely death in 2002.

The following year was spent close to home, until Robbie accepted an offer to go back on the road for ten months touring the USA, Europe, and Australia with the Dixie Chicks. He's now back home and as busy as ever as a session player and also producing and recording at his own studio, Turner-Up Recordings.

Visit Robbie Turner's web site at www.robbyturnermusic.com

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