Spyder Turner

Spyder Turner (born Dwight David Turner, February 4, 1947, Beckley, West Virginia) is an American soul singer. Turner was raised in Detroit, and sang in doo wop groups and high school choirs while young. He first began recording after winning a contest at the Apollo Theater in New York, recording some solo sides and singing backup for groups called The Stereophonics and The Fabulous Counts.

In 1966, record producer Clay McMurray had Turner's group do a recording session, and soon after Turner signed to MGM Records and released a single, a cover of the soul number "Stand By Me". The tune climbed to #3 on the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart early in 1967. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hpfpxqe5ldte~T51 Billboard Singles] , Allmusic.com] Soon after, a full-length album was released, peaking at #14 on the Black Albums chart and #158 on the Billboard 200. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hpfpxqe5ldte~T5 Billboard] , Allmusic.com] A second single from the album, "I Can't Make it Anymore", peaked at #95 on the Hot 100 pop chart.

Turner left his management after dissatisfaction with MGM's soul division (which consisted only of Howard Tate and himself), and played regionally in the South in the early 1970s.

Later that decade, Turner began working with Norman Whitfield, and wrote the tune "Do the Dance" for Rose Royce, which was a top ten R&B hit. He continued recording in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including a song for the movie "The Last Dragon" (billed on the soundtrack as Dwight David). He did some acting as well. He continues to perform in Michigan, and released his most recent album in 2006 through CD Baby.

Discography

*"Stand By Me" (MGM Records, 1967; reissued on CD, 1996)
*"Music Web" (Whitfield Records/Warner Bros. Records, 1978)
*"Only Love" (Whitfield)
*"Spyder Turner" EP (Self-released, 2006)

References