Welcome to the official website of Graeme Turner – Professional Saxophonist, Saxophone Teacher and Worldwind Music Endorsed Artist & UK Saxophone Consultant.

Biography

Born in April 1964, Graeme has been playing saxophone / flute / clarinet since age 7, and embarked on his first tour & Radio/TV appearances; with Glen Miller youth orchestra The Super Sunday Sound aged 9. Progressing through The National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) as a teenager, he turned his attention away from his jazz upbringing and concentrated on the bright lights of the Soul, R&B, Pop and Rock & Roll world of his big heroes King Curtis, Sam Buterra and Junior Walker.

This change of style led to Live Performances, Recordings, Media Appearances, Theatre Shows, and extensive tours in Arenas, Concert Halls, Clubs & Festivals, in over 40 countries, with artists including, Alison Moyet, Steve Marriott, George McRae, The Drifters, Edwin Starr, David Essex, The 3 Degrees, Dr Feelgood, The Love Affair, The Sweet, The Tremolos, The Equals, Andy Fairweather Low, Matt Bianco, The Brothers Grimm, The Big Town Playboys, The Foundations, Robert Plant, Jeff Beck, Rodriquez, Jools Holland, The Blues Brothers Show, Souled Out, Otis Grand, Wes Weston’s Big Rhythm, Big Joe Louis, Hard Lines, Martin McNeil’s Bottle Neck Blues, Suzie Quattro, Fat Freddie’s Cat, Lizzie Emeh (Heart n Soul), Mickey Jupp, Kelly Schreiber, Gregg Wright’s Left Hook, The Marques Brothers Digby Fairweather, The Chillbillies, Zoot Money and the Big Roll Band, The Blue Sonics, Kenny Ball, Laura B and the Moonlighters, Ooo Bop Shabam, The Rock & Roll Society, Guthrie Govern, Derek Nash, The Compensators, Martha Reeves, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Limmie and the Family Cooking, The Carpenters show, Sweet Home Chicago, Reach Out, The Jive Aces, Jackson Sloan, Earl Jackson, Jason Allen, Java Jam, Shamen Spirits, Gary Porter, The Silvertips, Junior Walker and the All Stars…the list goes on.
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Graeme has a large recording history with various albums and singles, as well as an extensive portfolio of Radio and TV commercials, Library albums and jingles, including ASDA, Pirelli Tyres, Ford, M&S, Mitsubishi, Jazz FM, Capitol Radio, Piccadilly Radio, Channel Four and BBC Radio and Television. Also vast experience of Live Television, Radio performance as well as Pre-recorded and Playback shows. He has also appeared in TV Series and Films. Graeme had a number one hit in South Africa in 2002 with his dance version, in collaboration with DJ Pooch, of the Rodriquez classic “Sugar man”, as well as the track becoming the official Big Brother SA song. He is a member of The Raging Horns Brass section.

Graeme spent 6 successful years with The Drifters Band as Sax Player and MD, backing the current line up on various worldwide tours. After the success of their most recent album release “Up On The Roof”, which achieved a gold disc in 2012, he is featured on the singles ”The Whole World” “Meant to be” “Do you dream of me” and “The One” which released in Europe and Asia to critical acclaim. He also appears on the Official DVD filmed at The O2 Arena with The Drifters and Drifters Legends as they were given Life Time Achievement Awards.

In 2012 Graeme had the privilege of performing live at the opening ceremony at the London Paralympic Games in the Olympic Stadium with award winning disabled artist Lizzie Emeh, who sadly died in 2021. He featured on Lizzie’s albums with The Raging Horns brass section.

From 2017 to the present, Graeme has been part of the Tina Turner Live theatre show, touring throughout the U.K. and Europe. 2022/23 has seen him playing with King Joe and The Atlantic's, The Zac Shulze Gang, Julie Jive and the Bigshot’s, Johnny and the Zephyrs, The Cosimo Matassa Project, and the wonderful C Bone featuring Dr Funk (Johnny Rubin), Darren Hurworth and C Bone (Chris Hogg).

Graeme is a qualified music teacher offering opportunity for private study to students, in all disciplines of saxophone playing and jazz improvisation. He has tutored for Yamaha Music Schools. His video tutorials on You Tube channel thesaxteacher, have been viewed around the world also being found on iTunes.

He has worked for many years as a demonstrator and consultant on saxophone design and history for instrument manufacturers. Graeme is a Saxophone Consultant/Product Specialist for Trevor James on their full range of TJ saxophones, including the Alpha Series, Classic Series, SR Series and Raw/Signature Custom/Autograph Series. He is an endorsed artist on the TJ Andy Sheppard Autograph Tenor Saxophone.He has lectured and given master classes in many European countries, including The World saxophone congress in Valencia and St Andrews.

Listen to Graeme playing with his Rock & Roll band The Silvertips by clicking here, or watch his highly successful teaching videos on his own YouTube channel.