Titus Turner

Biography

Titus Lee Turner (May 1, 1933 – September 13, 1984) was an American R&B and East Coast blues singer and songwriter. His best-remembered recordings are "We Told You Not to Marry×We Told You Not to Marry1959 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWe Told You Not to Marry2:05BTaking Care of Business2:01" and "Sound-Off×Sound-OffDecember 1960 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksASound-Off2:02BMe and My Lonely Telphone1:58". He also wrote "Leave My Kitten Alone", "Sticks and Stones" and "Tell Me Why".

Biography

Turner was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His debut single, "Where Are You", was released in 1950 by Aladdin Records, credited to Mr. T and his Band. Another single, "Stop Trying to Make a Fool of Me", was released by Regal Records in 1951. A year later he recorded eight tracks for Okeh Records, including "Got So Much Trouble". He then recorded for Wing, an imprint of Mercury Records, but he was not commercially successful until 1955, when Little Willie John recorded Turner's "All Around the World". Another version, retitled "Grits Ain't Groceries", was by Little Milton.
Turner and John then co-wrote "Leave My Kitten Alone", subsequently recorded by Johnny Preston, the Beatles, and Elvis Costello. In 1959, King Records issued Turner's first hit single, "The Return of Stagolee", an answer song to Lloyd Price's "Stagger Lee", followed by "We Told You Not to Marry×We Told You Not to Marry1959 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWe Told You Not to Marry2:05BTaking Care of Business2:01", an answer to Price's "I'm Gonna Get Married". Ray Charles recorded Turner's song "Sticks and Stones" in 1960 with many cover versions released over the years. By 1961 Turner had his biggest solo success with "Sound-Off×Sound-OffDecember 1960 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksASound-Off2:02BMe and My Lonely Telphone1:58", which came from the only album he ever released. The track was described by Joel Whitburn in Top Pop Singles 1955–2002 as a "popular US Army marching drill chant", which had been a number 3 hit for Vaughn Monroe in 1951.
Later singles failed to find a market, and Turner recorded for many labels throughout the 1960s without further tangible success. These included "Eye to Eye×Eye to Eye1966 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAEye to Eye2:29BWhat Kinda Deal Is This?2:32" (Okeh, 1966). His final release was a song he wrote, "His Funeral, My Trial", in 1969.
Turner died in Atlanta in 1984.

Notable songwriting credits

"All Around the World", also known as "Grits Ain't Groceries" (Turner)
"Big John" (Turner)
"Get on the Right Track Baby" (Turner)
"Hey Doll Baby" (Traditional, Turner)
"Hold Your Loving" (Bernice Snelson, Turner)
"If It's Good" (Julia Lee, Turner) - Julia Lee and her Boyfriends
"Leave My Kitten Alone" (Little Willie John, James McDougal, Turner)
"Little Girl Lost" (Luther Dixon, Lou Harrison, Turner)
"Living in Misery" (Turner)
"Lotus Blossom" (Julia Lee, Turner) - Julia Lee and her Boyfriends
"People Sure Act Funny" (Bobby Robinson, Turner)
"Soulville×SoulvilleAlbum · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracksA1SoulvilleA2Sticks and StonesA3SolitudeA4All Around the WorldA5I Love You BabyA6Bow WowA7My Darkest HourB1People Sure Act FunnyB2Walk on ByB3The Masquerade Is OverB4With Your Funny Looking SelfB5Mary MackB6Trying to Beat the Gaitor to the PondB7I Need Some Long Greens" (Henry Glover, Morris Levy, Dinah Washington, Turner)
"Sticks and Stones" (Turner)
"Stop the Pain" (Turner)
"Tell It Like It Is" (Turner) - Little Willie John
"Tell Me Why" (Turner) - Marie Knight (1956), Gale Storm (1956), The Crew-Cuts (1956), Elvis Presley (1966)

Compilation albums

Soulville: Golden Classics (1990), Collectables Records
Sound Off: The Jamie Masters (1994), Bear Family
Titans of R&B (1998), Red Lightnin' (UK)
1949–1954 (2005), Classics R&B

Chart singles

"Return of Stagolee×Return of Stagolee1959 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAReturn of Stagolee2:36BAnswer Me2:39" (King 5186) (April 1959), US R&B number 29
"We Told You Not to Marry×We Told You Not to Marry1959 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWe Told You Not to Marry2:05BTaking Care of Business2:01" (Glover 201) (December 1959), US Pop number 83; Canada number 36
"Sound-Off×Sound-OffDecember 1960 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksASound-Off2:02BMe and My Lonely Telphone1:58" (Jamie 1174) (March 1961), US Pop number 77