David "Ted" Turner was born in Yardley, Birmingham on August 2nd 1950. He began playing guitar at the age of sixteen, inspired particularly by the British blues boom of the late sixties which had spawned the likes of John Mayall, Eric Clapton and Fleetwood Mac. Ted's first band was a Birmingham based blues band called King Biscuit, although he did audition unsuccessfully for the vacant guitar position in Jon Hiseman's Colosseum.

 

In 1969 Ted replied to a "musicians wanted" advert placed by Martin Turner and Steve Upton in Melody Maker and was asked to attend an audition in London. Although Ted's technical skills were limited at this stage, both Martin and Steve were impressed by Ted's feel and intuitive approach to playing. Unable to chose between Ted and another candidate Andy Powell, Martin and Steve invited both players to attend a second audition, to see how they would play together. The players styles perfectly complimented each other and the harmony twins were born!

 

Ted Turner would be an integral part of the original Wishbone Ash line-up, gracing the band's first four albums with his distinctive, soulful playing, as well as his songwriting and vocal talents. 1973's Live Dates album would turn out to be Ted's swansong and, in 1974, he quit the band at the peak of its career, largely due to the pressures of the industry and a desire to explore a new direction.

 

Ted quit England to live in America and spent the best part of the late seventies/early eighties performing with local musicians, depending on where he was living. 1987 saw Ted Turner reunited with Wishbone Ash and the band's work during this time for the IRS label proved that Ted - despite a long absence from the mainstream music industry - had lost none of his playing ability. In addition, his vocal and songwriting talents had clearly developed considerably.

 

1994 saw the second departure of Ted Turner from Wishbone Ash. Ted continued to write and demo new material, resulting in the 2010 solo album Eklectic Value. Recent times have also seen Ted making frequent guest appearances with Martin Turner. 

 

Ted's official website: www.tedturnerguitar.com