Jon Turk: My Special One

Ed Kopp

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Published: November 1, 1999

Jon Turk is a soul and blues artist from Philadelphia who served as Percy Mayfield's guitarist during the 1980s. In recent years, Turk has labored as a bus driver and a security officer at Temple University. His wonderfully silky voice lifts these 10 self-penned songs above the ordinary.

The production budget for My Special One was obviously austere, but Turk's funky guitar and beautiful singing transcend the spare instrumentation. "You Only Need One," "Procrastinator" and "Prima Donna" are catchy funk ditties featuring '70s-style grooves. "Fairmont Park" is a nice honey-toned ballad, while "Three Feet Away" blends a Motown beat, an irresistible refrain, and Turk's Hendrix-like guitar. Turk's sweet overdubbed harmonies make him sound like a one-man Temptations on some tracks. Especially good is the title tune, a beautiful romantic ballad featuring cello and a gentle samba beat.

The one adjective that best describes Jon Turk is "classy." A major label should take this guy into the studio with an experienced producer, a fat horn section, and a few talented session players. A voice like this deserves a shot at the big time.

Record Label: Turk Productions
Style: Blues