Echoes of a Legacy: Brit Turner's Profound Impact on Blackberry Smoke

Brit Turner's journey with Blackberry Smoke, a band that's become synonymous with Southern rock's modern resurgence, ended on March 3, 2023, when he succumbed to his illness at 57. This loss prompted the band to pause their nationwide tour, a gesture of mourning for a man whose drumbeats were the heartbeat of their music.

The beginnings of the band date all the way back to 1997 where the first three members had a chance meeting at the recording studio and graphic design business owned by Brit Turner.  Charlie Starr, Brit Turner and his brother, Richard Turner hit it off.

The trio first played together in the hard rock band Nihilist.  With a failed album launch, Starr and the Turners started their own group, Blackberry Smoke.

Over time, the group grew, adding Paul Jackson and Brandon Still making the group a total of five.  Over their years together, Blackberry Smoke released eight albums, two live and five extended play.

Brit was always a driving force behind the band.  In an interview with Rolling Stone , Starr talked about his bandmate and his friend.

"It's kind of a whirlwind of emotion around here.  This was his passion. He worked tirelessly.  I wish that somehow people could see the dedication he had for this band," Starr said.

Starr loved his friend and just a few days before Turner's passing, Starr went to his home to share some good news.

"I told him our record was Number One and his eyes got really big. He had really stopped speaking at that point. (But) it was obvious to me he knew what I had told him."

The band had already agreed that they would carry on because they knew that was what Brit would have wanted.  The tour which was postponed after the founder's death, will resume on March 14 in West Des Moines, Iowa.

"We knew that we were going to continue because that's what he would want.  We've all worked hard, nobody harder than him to build this thing - if we decided to stop, he would shame us," Starr said.

In a very emotional set, Turner played his final show with the group on November 24, 2023 in Atlanta.  During the set, Turner's daughter, Lana, who is a cancer survivor herself, joined in on vocals on "Little Bit Crazy."

Choked up by tears, Starr told Rolling Stone, "Brit was so proud."

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