Josh Turner

• Genre: New Traditional
• Hometown: Hannah
• Josh Turner Website

About

When you first hear the barrel-chested, bass-heavy baritone voice of Josh Turner, it's quite difficult to believe that such a deep and mature-sounding voice can come from the mouth of such a young and boyish face. Were Don Williams dead, you'd think Turner was channeling his spirit every time he sang. He grew up in South Carolina, and always seemed to have his tender ears attuned to the low notes sung in his church quartet. As a young boy, he would walk around attempting to sing as low as possible -- and it obviously paid off. Obsessed with country music for years, Turner found his way to Nashville, where he was signed to MCA records after they had listened to only two of his songs. Even more impressive is that a major label signed him knowing that his material is far from the expendable country pop churned out every day in Music City. Rather than rocking a headset microphone and running around onstage in rhinestones, Turner puts forth songs that are old-timey and gospel-influenced.

- Eric Shea