Stan Turk – Guitar
I have been so very fortunate to continue to enjoy a long and fruitful music career playing almost every style and genre of music.
The Early Years
When I first heard the sound of an electric guitar, I asked my Dad, who played the piano, for an instrument. His first reply was “learn to play the piano first.” So, after six months of piano lessons, I asked again for an electric guitar. His second reply was “first learn to play acoustically.” So, after a few months of acoustic guitar lessons, I finally received a used electric guitar and amplifier. At about that time, I met up with a pal who played the accordion, and like so many kids in the 60s, we decided to form a band. What made that band, a little different though, was that in addition to playing the rock and soul hits of the day, we could also play musical “standards” for grown-ups. That allowed us to actually earn decent money playing not only teen centers, but also supper clubs, weddings, banquets, and special events, well before we were even old enough to drive! This period included performing backup for the 60’s group, The Angels (“My Boyfriend’s Back”) with The Marlins and recording original material and appearances on the “ Kerby Scott Show” with The Casino Royales . While studying music at UMBC, I spent several years playing with some talented jazz-rock bands Jeremiah , United Endeavor , Falstaff , covering music from Chicago, BST, etc., often with horn players from Hank Levy’s renowned Towson State Jazz Ensemble, and providing opening-act support for such national acts as The Guess Who. And, I was fortunate enough to study with some of the great guitar instructors in the area such as Larry Woolridge and Walt Namuth.
The Middle Years
After graduation, I began a full-time career in music – traveling up and down the east coast from Florida to Connecticut, and nearly every state in between – performing dance music and floor shows for about two years with Easy Living. I returned to the area to play clubs locally, mostly with the bands Pzazz and Secrets and performed at just about every major musical venue in the Baltimore/Washington/Ocean City region, including “Club Venus,” “Christopher’s,” “Golden 40,” “Chaps,” “Mr. Pip’s,” “Pecora’s,” and “The Paddock,” to name just a few, as well as providing backup for such nationally-known acts such as “The Coasters.”
The Late-Middle Years
In the late 1980’s, market changes made it difficult to support a growing family on income from performing locally. So, instead of performing in the evening, I attended law school, somehow graduating cum laude. I then spent the next 26 years practicing law, spending almost 20 of them with the Office of the Maryland Attorney General serving under three Attorneys General and representing the administrations of four Maryland governors. During that time, of course, there was always music. I spent five years teaching a Sunday school music class, and in the early 2000’s played casual gigs on weekends with extremely talented musicians in the band
Radiant,
performing at some of the most prestigious venues in the Baltimore/D.C. area, including the Congressional Country Club and Georgetown University. And, there was also a super fun A.G.'s Office band that regularly performed at the annual office holiday party.
The Present
Currently, I am delighted to be performing regularly in the Baltimore/D.C. area, primarily with The Gayle Harrod Band (originals, R&B and blues), Sharon and the Edge (classic rock) and The Don Arnold Big Band (big band jazz and standards) as well as a fill-in guitarist for numerous area rock, pop, blues and jazz groups, including Rock 'n Roll show group, The Fabulous Hubcaps, and even as a soloist. As I always have, I enjoy playing all genres, especially classic rock, R&B, jazz, and blues.