Mel Turner - A Portrait Of Mel Turner (1969) Interdisc - LP Release Only - Rare Soul (FLAC 185MB)

A name known to me via the Northern Scene comes this obscure album that yielded some great dancers...Only album he ever recorded under this name, but another recorded under the name Jimmy Ross & 37 x 45,s recorded under both names. The other album as JR (1981) is entirely different in the `CHIC` Mold...... Jimmy James Ross (aka Mel Turner) was born in 1936 in Trinidad & passed in 2000 in Wiekevorst Belgium. Born as James Albert Abraham he was a singer and composer mostly known for his disco hit in England "First True Love Affair2 in 1981. He joined the US Navy at a young age as a cook. Later in life he changed his last name to Ross, the last name of his mother. During his teenage years in the navy he quickly became known for his singing capabilities on board the ship. Making extra money in local bars and clubs whenever they went ashore Ross quickly got recognition of his talent. Not long after leaving the Navy, he made his way to Europe. Having lived in the U.K. and Germany, where he got married, he finally settled down in Belgium, where he lived for the rest of his life. Living in Kasterlee-Lichtaart he became friends with singer/songwriter and amusement park owner Bobbejaan Schoepen and his family. He started to perform and record as “Mel Turner”. He lived for many years in Bobbejaanland where Mel Turner and Bobbejaan Schoepen intensvely worked together in Bobbejaan's venue.  In April 1968, after Martin Luther King was murdered, they both wrote the song ‘They Killed the King’ together as a tribute to MLK, Jr. It was intended to be a tribute to all peaceful defenders of equality, humanity and freedom. The song first was released on Bobbejaan Records, May 14, 1968, nearly one month after Martin Luther King was murdered April 4, 1968. Later it featured on this album. Jimmy Ross’ biggest breakthrough was “First True love affair” a song that reached #7 on the Dance music Charts and the song reached #90 on the US Billboard charts featured on his other album. During the 1980s and 1990s he moved back to Bobbejaanland to perform there most of the time. In 1993 Ross got diagnosed with lung emphysema. After a long battle he sadly succumbed to the disease in 2000....Another album found under the cobwebs!..

AMM

                                                                                                      The Tasters!