By Michael Swanger
scenescribe@mchsi.com

A variety of blues can be found at this weekend’s Winter Blues Fest hosted by the Central Iowa Blues Society, yet no other artist on the bill promises to deliver an amalgam of sounds as diverse as trance blues, jazz, R&B, Afro-Cuban and psychedelic rock, as does singer-guitarist Eddie Turner.

Turner’s progressive musical mix is a product of his diverse background. Born in Cuba and raised in Evanston, Ill., the 59-year-old musician was influenced by his family’s affinity of music that ranged from The Weavers to George Benson. Growing up near Chicago, he soaked up the city’s legendary blues scene at a young age, seeing artists like Muddy Waters and Hound Dog Taylor perform, before moving on to the harder rock sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin and Blue Cheer.

“When I was 13 years old, I’d go to Delmark Records (Jazz Record Mart) and buy all these blues records and practice my guitar at home,” Turner said. “That was the hip music at the time during the ’60s. Blues was what everybody was doing, but I also saw Led Zeppelin and Savoy Brown on their first tours of America.”

One of the bands that made a lasting impression on him and would help shape his career was Zephyr. The Boulder, Colo.-based blues-rock band featured Iowa native guitarist Tommy Bolin, who went on to play with The James Gang and Deep Purple before dying of a heroin overdose in 1976, and singer Candy Givens who also overdosed on drugs and alcohol in 1984. After finishing high school, Turner moved to Boulder in the early 1970s to attend the University of Colorado, but his real motivation was to be near Zephyr.

“I made up my mind I was going to join that band,” he said.

After immersing himself in the Boulder scene, working with notable bands like The Immortal Nightflames, The Legendary 4Nikators and Tracy Nelson, Turner joined Zephyr after Bolin formed The James Gang.

“I was with Zephyr during the early ’80s, when things started to take off. We had a record out (that spawned the pioneering music video “Heartbeat/Don’t Come Back”) and were getting good reviews, then Candy died. It was tragic. I loved Candy to death, and it was an honor to play with her, but basically she was a fuck-up who loved drugs.”

After Zephyr dissolved, Turner quit playing music and sold real estate for several years before being lured back into the game by jazz trumpeter Ron Miles. Then in 1995, Turner joined fellow Zephyr alumnus and bluesman Otis Taylor’s band.

“One day we’re playing little restaurants in Boulder, and the next thing you know we’re flying all over the world,” said Turner.

After spending nine years in Taylor’s band, Turner left in 2004 to return to real estate. But his final turn as a realtor was short lived after receiving an offer from Northern Blues to record his debut solo album, “Rise.”

“I figured I had only one shot at it, so I called all my friends to play on it, and it got nominated for a WC Handy Award,” Turner said.

Today, Turner continues to tour with his own band and make records, including 2010’s “Miracles & Demons.” Whether they buy his albums or attend his shows, Turner wants fans to “walk away with a smile on their face and say they heard a lot of stuff.”

“If they do that,” he said, “then I’ve done my job.” CV

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Winter Blues Fest Details

When: Saturday, Jan. 28

Where: Downtown Marriott

Cost: $12 advance, $15 door. Visit http://www.cibs.org

Lineup:

Rob Lumbard, 5-7 p.m., Hotel Lobby

Bryce Janey, 7-10 p.m. Rock River Lounge

Lil’ Slim Blues Band, 7-9:45 p.m. Des Moines Ballroom

The Candymakers, 7:15-10:15 p.m. Salon E

Eddie Turner & The Trouble Twins, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Dubuque Ballroom

Connie Hawkins & The BluesWreckers, 8:15-11:15 p.m. Salon D

Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, 10:15 p.m. - 1:15 a.m. Des Moines Ballroom

Bob Dorr & The Blue Band, 10:45 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. Salon E

Javier & the Innocent Sons, 11 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. Dubuque Ballroom

Bob Pace Band, 11:45 p.m. Salon D (followed by after hours jam starting at 12:45 a.m.)