Tommy Turk

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Tommy Turk

| image = Tommy Turk.jpg

| caption =

| image_size =

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| birth_name = Thomas Eugene Turk

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|07|02}}

| birth_place = Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1981|08|04|1927|07|02}}

| death_place = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

| years_active =

| origin =

| instrument = Trombone

| genre = Jazz

| occupation = Musician

| associated_acts =

}}

Thomas Eugene Turk (July 2, 1927 – August 4, 1981) was an American jazz trombonist.

Early life

Thomas Eugene Turk was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on July 2, 1927.{{cite web |title=Thomas Eugene Turk World War II draft card |url=https://ibb.co/jvnj1VK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813123131/https://ibb.co/jvnj1VK |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |access-date=13 August 2023}} His father, Joseph, was a coal miner and self-taught trumpeter.Leonard, Vince, "Trombonist Turk Slain in Las Vegas" [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19810806&id=Nd4NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_G0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6855,508843 Pittsburgh-Post Gazette], August 6, 1981, p. 6. Tommy got his first trombone when he was in fourth grade of school. His elder brother, Rob, was also a trumpeter. The three of them played in a band with two neighbors, and Tommy developed some fast-playing technique when playing polkas in the band. He had further musical experience in the Conemaugh High School band, and graduated from the same school in 1944. The brothers then continued playing together in a University of Michigan campus band, but Tommy soon joined the army, where he also led bands.

Later life and career

Turk left the army and then moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1947. He became established there as part of the Deuces Wild quintet. Their playing helped Turk develop a reputation, and when promoter Norman Granz heard him play, he invited Turk to appear with his touring group of major jazz figures when they performed at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh. His appearance was a success, and Granz recruited Turk to play in Chicago, and for several months in 1948 as part of Jazz at the Philharmonic.

Turk can be heard on several CDs with Charlie Parker. In 1949 he was a member of Flip Phillips and His Orchestra, together with John D'Agostino, Buddy Morrow, Kai Winding, Sonny Criss, Mickey Crane, Ray Brown and Shelly Manne, and on December 1, 1949, he led a group including Ray Brown and Buddy Rich that recorded four tunes under the name "Tommy Turk and His Orchestra".[https://books.google.com/books?id=GqBGAAAAMAAJ&q=%22tommy+turk%22 Jazz Records, 1942-1965: A Discography By Jørgen Grunnet Jepsen] Nevertheless, he decided to stay in Pittsburgh, where he could control what he played and enjoyed life – in the 1950s he continued playing with Deuces Wild.Peña, Carlos E., Pittsburgh Jazz Records and Beyond, 1950–1985, {{cite web |url=http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04252007-112723/unrestricted/Pena_ETD2007_FINAL.pdf |title=Pittsburgh University Master's Thesis |access-date=2009-10-02 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609201348/http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04252007-112723/unrestricted/Pena_ETD2007_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=June 9, 2007 }}

In 1954, The Pittsburgh Press reported that Turk was considering leaving the area because his annual earnings of less than $5,500 from leading Deuces Wild were inadequate.{{cite news |last=Kohler |first=Roy |date=April 11, 1954 |title=Does It Pay to Play? |work=The Pittsburgh Press |pages=3–4}} At the time, he had a wife, Mary, and two sons – Tommy Turk Jr, aged three, and Charles, aged two.

Turk also recorded with Billie Holiday,[http://www.discogs.com/Billie-Holiday-Lady-Sings-The-Blues/release/1633605 Lady Sings the Blues at Discogs.com] Ella Fitzgerald and Flip Phillips around the same time.[http://www.jazzdisco.org/verve/1949-dis/c/ Verve Records Discography 1949] In 1972, he performed at the Pittsburgh Jazz Festival with a band led by Roy Eldridge.Garland, Hazel (June 24, 1972), "Jazz Festival Was Great But Attendance Could Be Better" Pittsburgh Courier, p. 16.

For many years Turk led a quartet that played at the Point View Hotel in Brentwood, Pennsylvania.Frushell, Richard (December 12, 2010) "The Next Page / An Upright City: Pittsburgh and the jazz bass" [http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/the-next-page-an-upright-city-pittsburgh-and-the-jazz-bass-277271/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.] He later moved to Las Vegas, to play in house bands.{{cite news |last=McHugh |first=Roy |date=December 8, 1977 |title=Turk Scales to 'The-Truth!!!' |work=The Pittsburgh Press |page=2}} The Brentwood band reformed in 1976, and later recorded the album The-Truth!!!'' as a quintet.

Death

Years later, Turk was living and performing in Las Vegas. On August 4, 1981, he was fatally shot by robbers at a tavern in that city."Tommy Turk Killer Gets Life" (May 14, 1982) [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19820514&id=O-EhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x10EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6317,6886217 The Pittsburgh Press, p. A-7.] The Pittsburgh Press reported that Turk was "shot in the head for no apparent reason as he and other patrons lay on the floor of a tavern liquor store during a holdup." One eyewitness reported that Turk had difficulty lying flat and did not take out his wallet quickly enough for the killer."After 24 years, Las Vegas murderer has chance for parole" (December 15, 2005) [http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2005/dec/15/after-24-years-las-vegas-murderer-has-chance-for-p/ Las Vegas Sun.] Four gang members were charged in relation to the killing. The 15-year-old who shot Turk was made eligible for parole in 2005. Turk, who was 53,{{cite news|title=Trombonist Killed During Bar Hold Up|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/869222/the_daily_news/?|newspaper=The Daily News|date=August 6, 1981 |page=2|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = August 16, 2014}} {{Open access}} was survived by his wife and two sons.

Discography

=As leader=

==Album==

The-Truth!!! Asterik. Recorded in concert, June 23, 1977

==Singles==

"Two By Four" / "Encore" Mercury.{{cite news|author=Milsop, Joe|title=Juke Box Review|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/869286/the_progress/?|newspaper=The Progress|date=April 20, 1950 |page=11|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = August 16, 2014}} {{Open access}} Recorded December 1, 1949[http://www.jazzdisco.org/tommy-turk/discography/ "Tommy Turk Discography"]. jazzdisco.org Retrieved August 16, 2014.
"Bye Bye Blues" / "The Beat" Mercury. Recorded December 1, 1949

=As sideman=

With Jazz at the Philharmonic

1949 Jazz at the Philharmonic (Verve, 1949){{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |author-link=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |author-link2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD |year=1996 |edition=3rd |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-14-051368-4 |page=1021 }}
Carnegie Hall 1949 (Pablo, 1949){{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |author-link=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |author-link2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |year=2008 |edition=9th |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-141-03401-0 |page=774 }}