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JOE LYNN TURNER CELEBRATES LATEST AMERICAN RELEASE: Former Deep Purple/Rainbow Singer Joe Lynn Turner Celebrates First American Solo Release of Original Material since 1985! Joe Lynn Turner---former frontman for Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, Deep Purple and Yngwie Malmsteen- --delivers his first solo album of all original material in over 15 years! After Rainbow split up in the early 80s, Turner worked with renowned producer Roy Thomas Baker on "Rescue You" which spawned the hit single and MTV video, "Endlessly." But that was the last time a solo album of JLT- penned songs was officially released in the USA. His latest outing, simply titled "JLT," (Shrapnel) is a down-to-earth, All-American blues-based hard rock CD. One of the reasons that Joe decided to name this one after his own initials is because he was more intimately involved with the making of this album. In fact, "JLT" is the first album to feature 2 songs that Turner wrote "solo" without any additional collaborators. He also plays guitar on the album, a skill he is very accomplished in but modestly has shied away from on previous releases. To give the record a more modern sound, Joe enlisted the engineering savvy of Gary Toll who worked recently worked with Bon Jovi on "Bounce." "JLT" also features former Rainbow members John O'Reilly (drums), Paul Morris (keyboards) as well as guitarists Al Pitrelli (ex-Megadeth/Savatage/Trans Siberian Orchestra), Joe Bonamossa and Savatage's Chris Caffery. New to the JLT family for this album is New Jersey-based songwriter/musician Chris Marksbury. Marksbury co-wrote 6 tracks on "JLT." Marksbury had some notoriety in the New York City area with The Metros in the 1980s. Chris has written some successful commercial jingles and met JLT during a recording session for a Wendy's Restaurant ad. Turner and Marksbury really hit it off and shortly after, decided to combine their ideas that resulted in some of the most original-sounding songs that Joe has laid down to date. Turner is in fine vocal form on "JLT." While Turner always cites his work with Ritchie Blackmore in Rainbow and Deep Purple among the most enjoyable years in his musical career he reveals, "Blackmore always liked that very pointed, pure high 'head' voice. I was limited a bit when I sang with Rainbow. And while I was given a bit more freedom to stretch out vocally while with Deep Purple I still felt that there were more dynamics to my voice that could have been used." On "JLT," it's obvious why he is often called "one of the most underrated singers in classic rock history" by many radio programmers and music critics. Turner affirms, "It was real pleasure to record 'JLT' ... from songwriting, rehearsing to recording it was all done with a great feeling and spirit. All of my talented and faithful friends came and gave their time and abilities to the project, making it a truly enjoyable experience! I'm back to my blues rock roots on some cuts and others contain some obvious RAINBOW / DEEP PURPLE overtones." Special Note: While this is only Turner's second official USA release of original material, he has previously released 8 solo albums to date in Europe and Japan. His solo CD discography includes "Undercover I" and "Undercover II"---a collection of cover songs. These 2 albums were released in the USA but not heavily promoted. Lisa Walker courtesy of To The Max