Michael Turner

Detroit-born Michael Turner’s flair blends classic Motown soul with electric Rock City swagger.

The resulting confection is a riveting brand of guitar-driven Rock/R&B that brims with passion, fire and grace.

Though he is best known as the charismatic lead singer of the hard-charging Detroit powerhouse, Jiva, Turner has crafted a solo project that puts his rich vocals and powerful lyrics behind the wheel of a high-octane rock and soul muscle car. Prepare to eat his dust…

Michael Turner on Facebook

Michael Turner – “Look At Us Now”

Here is a sneak peak from Michael Turner‘s forthcoming album Dare To Love.

“I wrote ‘Look At Us Now’ in response to the current state of the world,” Turner says. “If you take a look at how the United States started as a nation, and what was promised as it pertains to basic rights, freedom, and the American dream, a lot is promised with American citizenship, and yet minorities, gays, immigrants, and socioeconomically disenfranchised people still face a lot of struggles.

“The media tends to focus on the negative, versus highlighting the positive stories that show progress, and the areas where we are heading in the right direction. We’ve still got a long way to go if we’re going to save ourselves, but if we don’t look at ourselves critically, we’ll never figure out how to make those changes.”

A Birthday Party For Everyone: The 2nd Annual Birthday Show with White Shag and Michael Turner

White Shag, the Motor City’s premiere psychedelic power trio teams up with rock and soul stirrer Michael Turner for The Second Annual Birthday Show on Friday, January 17 at New Way Bar, 23130 Woodward Avenue in Ferndale. The party starts at 9:00pm with party favors, and birthday cake. Admission to the 21 and older show is free. The show is sponsored by stage apparel retailer Showtime Detroit, and Detroit record label, Distorted Soul.

The Birthday Show tradition began in 2013 as a way for White Shag to celebrate their own births, but it was expanded to include everyone who ever had a birthday (meaning, You and YOU). This year they invited their friend, Michael Turner, former lead singer of hard-charging Detroit rockers, Jiva, to premiere his new solo project at the birthday celebration.

Turner, whose birthday is January 22, will release his first solo album on the Distorted Soul label this summer, and he is anxious to show off his new material. “I can’t wait to get back on stage with some of Detroit’s finest musicians, and the always rocking band, White Shag,” Turner says. His band includes Twistin’ Tarantula’s guitarist Lawerence Daversa, and Detroit funk assassin Nadir Omowale on bass.

Meanwhile, White Shag has been rocking clubs and racking up acclaim all over the nation. They recently received three nominations in the 2014 Rockwired Radio Music Awards, and were among Music Connection’s Top 100 Unsigned Bands. Bassist and vocalist, Laura Mendoza, is excited to celebrate this year’s birthday show at Ferndale’s newly remodeled New Way Bar.

“I’m really happy we got to put on The Birthday Show again this year,” Mendoza says. “Last year’s show was really fun, so you can count on the same this year!”