Joseph Arthur Mark Linquito, professionally known as Joe Lynn Turner, is a multifaceted American artist born on August 2, 1951. As a singer, guitarist, songwriter, and producer, Turner has made a significant impact in the music industry. His extensive career has seen him front and play guitar for various bands, including Rainbow, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, and Deep Purple.
In the late 1970s, Turner was part of the pop rock band Fandango, before joining Rainbow in the early 1980s. During his time with Rainbow, he wrote songs with guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and bassist Roger Glover. After the band disbanded for the first time in March 1984, Turner pursued a solo career, releasing the album Rescue You and later focusing on session work, lending his vocals to tracks by notable artists such as Billy Joel, Cher, and Michael Bolton.
Turner's advice from Bolton led him to explore jingle production for radio and television, as well as recording songs with other songwriters like Desmond Child and Jack Ponti. His compositions were then recorded and released by international artists Jimmy Barnes, Lee Aaron, and Bonfire. He had brief associations with Yngwie Malmsteen and Deep Purple before resuming his solo career in the mid-1990s.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Turner continued to release music, including nine studio and two live albums. He also worked on various projects, appearing as a lead vocalist on tribute albums and collaborating with bands such as Mother's Army, Brazen Abbot, Hughes Turner Project, and Rated X.
In 2006, Turner joined the AOR side project Sunstorm, releasing four albums under the name. That same year, he released The Sessions via Cleopatra Records, featuring a range of guest musicians from the classic rock world. Since then, Turner has continued to tour extensively throughout Europe, solidifying his place as a respected figure in the music industry.
