Album of the Day

Born in 1911 in Kansas City, Missouri, Joseph Vernon Turner Jr. started singing in his teens, and his booming voice helped shape blues, swing and rock 'n' roll across the decades. While performing in New York in 1951, Big Joe Turner was recruited by the then-new Atlantic Records label, for which he cut a string of R&B hits. The 1959 collection BIG JOE IS HERE gathers some of these popular singles (“The Chill Is On,” “Don't You Cry,” “Rock A While”), but the bulk of these 10 tracks emphasize the K.C. jazz of his youth. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer passed away 31 years ago; while his powerful presence is much missed behind the microphone, these passionate sides ensure BIG JOE IS HERE whenever you hit the play button.